The Horn of Africa Women Network “Siyaha” condemned violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El Fasher, North Darfur, highlighting that kidnappings and enforced disappearances constitute blatant violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Since early August 2025, the network has documented an increase in kidnappings and enforced disappearances of women and children in El Fasher city and the Abu Shouk IDP camp, linked to RSF expansion in the area.
“Siyaha” reported multiple abductions, including on August 23, when RSF elements forcibly took Halima Adam (50), Hiba Muhammedin (18), Aisha Adam (50, displaced from Katim), Zainab Suleiman Abdullah (55), Fatima Muhammed Hajar (30), and Jamila Ahmad Ali (30) from Abu Shouk camp to unknown locations.
The network also documented the abduction of 30 women and girls in March from the village of “Karasu,” east of El Fasher and Al-Thawra neighborhood, who were detained in medical supply buildings converted by RSF into holding centers. Women, girls, and children in these centers reportedly face sexual violence, torture, and forced labor.
“Siyaha” stated that many cases could not be documented due to deteriorating security, internet outages, and difficulty contacting families. The network called for the immediate and unconditional release of all enforced disappearance victims and urged the lifting of the siege on El Fasher and all besieged cities in Sudan to allow humanitarian aid and civilian protection. They stressed the need to hold all perpetrators in Darfur accountable.
