Fighters loyal to the army patrol a market area in Khartoum on 24 March 2025. Picture: AFP
(The Post News) – Sudan’s transitional government has formally appealed to South Africa to support its push for justice against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accused of severe wartime abuses.
The RSF, which splintered from the Sudanese Armed Forces [SAF] earlier this year, faces mounting allegations of war crimes, including mass killings, sexual violence, and forced displacement.
Regional Backing for Justice
Ambassador Osman Abufatima Adam stated that the conflict has persisted for over two years, claiming that the United Arab Emirates’ backing of the RSF has fueled its continuation.
He stated that the paramilitary group uses ammunition traceable to the UAE and several influential Western nations. Adam emphasised that the conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has displaced over 12.5 million people and killed tens of thousands.
Researchers recently published satellite images that show mass graves being dug in El-Fasher, a city the RSF seized after laying siege to it for 18 months.
In an earlier statement on 30 October, South Africa strongly denounced the “abhorrent” violence in Sudan, specifically attacks that intentionally harm civilians and destroy vital infrastructure such as hospitals.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) emphasised.
“There must be accountability for grave breaches of international humanitarian and human rights law. Protecting civilians and preserving essential infrastructure are not optional—they are binding legal and moral duties,” the department said.
The government urged both the SAF and the RSF to halt all fighting without conditions and commit to a ceasefire that can be independently verified.
A Brutal Conflict with Global Implications
The RSF, originally formed from the Janjaweed militias in Darfur, has been locked in a violent power struggle with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since 2023.
According to CNN, the RSF recently captured El-Fasher, the last SAF stronghold in Darfur, after an 18-month siege. Satellite imagery and eyewitness reports revealed mass graves in the area, suggesting systematic killings of civilians.
CNN also reported that foreign influence has exacerbated the conflict.
Ammunition used by the RSF has been linked to the United Arab Emirates and several Western countries, raising concerns about external support for the paramilitary group.
Sudanese officials argue that this backing has prolonged the war and deepened the humanitarian crisis.
Meanwhile, over half of Sudan’s population now requires life-saving aid, and the country faces the world’s largest displacement crisis.
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