Sudan commanders linked to wartime rape in new investigation

The report, published on Monday, examines five locations and periods of reported abuse across Darfur, Gezira and other regions. It traces commanders' appearances to periods of reported abuse. The CIR said it has reasonable grounds to believe the commanders were directly or indirectly responsible for sexual violence, but that the data does not establish individual criminal guilt for specific incidents.

Khademallah Khashmin Herika, a major in the RSF's female contingent, is among the 25 named. In a video posted in October 2025 as the paramilitaries entered el-Fasher, she appeared to incite rape: 'The Northern State? You'll just go for its women, so you cleanse their lineage and bring [brave] sons just like you.' The CIR described the remarks as an explicit incitement to the crime. Herika is also seen in footage near Garni, where survivors described girls being held and raped over two nights.

The most senior RSF officer identified in el-Fasher was Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, deputy commander and brother of RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The UN documented mass and gang rape in the city during the RSF takeover. The investigation also maps commanders such as Abuaqla Mohamed Ahmed Alwakil, who served as a commander on both sides of the war, appearing in Wad Madani, where the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa documented the rape of seven women at an industrial school. The war between the SAF and RSF has been running for three years. Both sides have previously denied allegations of sexual violence by their personnel.

On October 26, Britain imposed sanctions on 15 senior commanders, including artillery commander Hussein Abu Jalak. The UK Foreign Office linked Abu Jalak to the siege and assault on el-Fasher. The UK government said the announcement followed CIR reporting on sexual violence and starvation. The UK also pledged 5 million pounds ($6.7m) for survivors and 10 million pounds ($13.4m) for humanitarian assistance. The 15 designations are a separate list from the 25 commanders identified by the CIR, and sanctions do not amount to criminal convictions.

Al Jazeera contacted the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces for comment but received no response. The CIR investigation notes that a command-responsibility case would require evidence about effective control, knowledge and failures to take necessary measures to prevent, repress or report crimes. For survivors, stigma, insecurity and inaccessible services continue to obstruct treatment and testimony.