Witnesses say the RSF is abducting children in Sudan

Key Concepts

• Rapid Support Forces (RSF): A paramilitary group in Sudan currently engaged in a civil war with the Sudanese Army.
• John Militias (Janjaweed): The precursor to the RSF, accused of genocide in Darfur in the early 2000s.
• Abduction & Enslavement: The forced taking of children, with reports indicating intent for use as slaves.
• War Crimes & Crimes Against Humanity: Potential legal classifications of the reported actions.
• Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: Described by the UN as the largest in the world, exacerbated by famine, disease, and displacement.

The Abduction of Children During Sudan’s Civil War: A Reuters Investigation

This report details findings from a Reuters investigation into the abduction of children amidst the ongoing civil war in Sudan, specifically focusing on accounts from displaced people near the Chad-Sudan border and in North Darfur. The investigation reveals a pattern of child abduction allegedly perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and affiliated militias, a horror largely unreported in other media outlets.

Witness Accounts & Scale of Abductions

Reuters interviewed 26 witnesses – both in person and via phone – who had fled to Toila in North Darfur or to eastern Chad. These witnesses described a total of 23 separate incidents occurring since 2023, involving the abduction of at least 56 children. The ages of the abducted children ranged from as young as two months old. The accounts consistently depict a brutal process: children who resisted were subjected to violence, including beatings with guns and threats at gunpoint. In at least four documented cases, witnesses reported that RSF fighters killed the children’s parents before abducting their sons and daughters.

Motives & Alleged Use of Abducted Children

Witnesses reported hearing RSF fighters explicitly state their intention to use the abducted children as slaves, specifically for herding animals. This echoes historical patterns of abuse associated with the Janjaweed militias, the precursor to the RSF. One witness recounted hearing children crying for their parents at night while being held for ransom following the fall of Alaser. The abductions were concentrated in two key areas: the city of Alaser and along the road leading to Toila, where approximately 650,000 people are currently displaced.

Historical Context: The Janjaweed & Darfur Genocide

The report draws a direct line between the current actions of the RSF and the atrocities committed by the Janjaweed militias during the Darfur conflict in the early 2000s. The Janjaweed were previously accused of genocide, and during that conflict, they engaged in the abduction of children, forcing them into domestic servitude, livestock herding, and even sexual slavery, according to activists and human rights groups. This historical precedent lends weight to the severity of the current allegations.

Responses & Lack of Verification

Reuters attempted to obtain comment from the RSF regarding the reported abductions, abuse, and killings. The RSF did not respond. Previously, the RSF has denied deliberately targeting civilians and claimed to investigate allegations of abuse. The Sudanese Army acknowledged the witness accounts as consistent with the behavior of the Janjaweed militias. An official from UNICEF stated the reports align with a broader pattern of “grave violations against children” in Sudan. Crucially, Reuters acknowledges it could not independently verify the accounts or determine the ultimate fate of the abducted children, nor could they ascertain the total number of children abducted.

Legal Implications & Humanitarian Crisis

Legal experts consulted by Reuters suggest that the reported abductions and enslavement may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, violating international law. The report underscores the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, which the United Nations has described as the largest in the world, characterized by widespread famine and disease.

Individual Testimonies

• Mecca Adam Abu Bakr: A refugee from Sudan who witnessed the abduction of four children in Darur in April of the previous year.
• Imam Ali: Fled Alasir in March and was attacked by RSF fighters southeast of Tawila.
• Fatima: Fled Nala in October 2023 and was stopped by RSF fighters in Karamaj on the way to Alasher.

Synthesis & Main Takeaways

The Reuters investigation reveals a disturbing pattern of child abduction and potential enslavement by the RSF and affiliated militias during the Sudanese civil war. The accounts, while not independently verifiable in their entirety, are consistent with a history of abuse perpetrated by the Janjaweed and raise serious concerns about war crimes and crimes against humanity. The report highlights the devastating impact of the conflict on Sudan’s children and underscores the urgent need for international attention and accountability. The scale of the humanitarian crisis, coupled with these alleged atrocities, demands a comprehensive response to protect vulnerable populations and address the root causes of the conflict.