The United Nations says civilian deaths in Sudan have more than doubled in 2025 compared to last year, as the war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to devastate the country.
Speaking at the United Nations Human Rights Council, UN human rights chief Volker Turk described the conflict as “ugly, bloody and senseless.” He said thousands of victims remain missing or unidentified, and that both sides are responsible for serious abuses.
The war, which began in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced around 11 million. There are still no official overall death figures.
Turk condemned widespread atrocities, including sexual violence, summary executions, and arbitrary detentions. He pointed to what he called “carnage” by the RSF in attacks on the Zamzam displacement camp and in El-Fasher, the army’s former stronghold in western Darfur. Sexual violence has sharply increased, with more than 500 cases documented in 2025 alone. He warned that women and girls are being deliberately targeted to terrorize communities.
Fighting has now spread deeper into Kordofan, where drone strikes have reportedly killed or injured nearly 600 civilians since January. The increased use of long-range drones has brought violence to areas that were once considered relatively safe.
The UN has also raised alarm over famine conditions. According to a UN-backed assessment, famine has been declared in El-Fasher and in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan. Aid access has been severely restricted, with humanitarian staff forced to withdraw at times for safety reasons.
Several foreign countries have been accused of supporting different sides in the conflict. The United Arab Emirates has been accused of backing the RSF, which it denies. Meanwhile, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia are reported to support army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire including talks led by the US, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt have repeatedly failed. Turk urged stronger diplomatic pressure to secure a humanitarian truce and move toward a permanent ceasefire, warning that without urgent action, the violence and suffering will continue to spiral.
Source: AFRICA NEWS
