Category: Press Release

Sudan Needs You!Darfur Needs You Now More Than Ever, Speak up!

Darfur’s genocide has been ongoing for over 24 years – and the number of civilian casualties increases every day while the world remains SILENT!

Dear DWAG Supporters:

We are reaching out to you with an urgent appeal! Since November 2023, with the exception of El Fasher in North Darfur, Darfur has fallen entirely under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In El Geneina, West Darfur alone, the RSF has slaughtered between 10,000 to 15,000 people, with countless more casualties across Darfur and Sudan going undocumented. Civilian deaths have escalated to alarming rates, yet the world remains silent. In a recent report, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) confirmed that a child dies every two hours in Zamzam camp, in North Darfur. Before this crisis, Darfur was home to over 122 internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, where 3 million people had lived for over two decades. They remain unable to return home, their lands stolen, and their attackers still unpunished. The international community’s inaction indirectly legitimizes the slaughter and extermination of Sudan’s indigenous African population—this is why we urgently need your help.

Since April 15, 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in violence, sparked by a power struggle between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). This war has torn the country apart, causing unspeakable suffering. The RSF has occupied civilians’ homes, using rape and sexual violence as weapons of war, while the SAF’s shelling and bombardment have destroyed homes, markets, and essential infrastructure. In both Khartoum and Darfur, RSF fighters have committed widespread sexual and gender-based violence, including abductions and sexual slavery. Starvation is now being used as a weapon of war by both sides.

While the atrocities in Khartoum constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, in Darfur, active genocide is being systematically carried out against indigenous Africans. The international community must act immediately to end the violence and hold those responsible accountable.

Patterns of Ethnically Targeted Attacks and Extermination of Indigenous Africans in Darfur

The RSF’s attacks in Darfur are systematic and explicitly aimed at the indigenous African population. Civilians have been massacred, and deprived of food, water, and medical assistance, with the RSF deliberately cutting off all means of survival. As a result, a large portion of the population has been forced into mass displacement since the start of the conflict. This genocidal strategy has been most apparent in El Geneina, West Darfur, where an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 indigenous Masalit people were brutally murdered by the RSF and its allied militias. Similar atrocities have unfolded in Kutum and Tawila in North Darfur, Mornay in West Darfur, and Nyala in South Darfur, where countless lives have been lost, and residents forced to flee their homes. Many survivors have taken refuge in El Fasher, now internally displaced persons (IDPs), but they remain under the threat of further attacks.

El Fasher is far from a safe haven. The city is under continuous shelling, targeting civilians and healthcare infrastructure as 4 hospital have recent been bombed by RSF.  Major roads in and out of the city are blocked, preventing fuel, goods and  humanitarian aid into the city. Both Zamzam and Abu Shook camp, home to 500,000 displaced people, has been attacked, and the situation is further worsened by devastating floods, which have made it even harder for people to survive or  flee.

Despite a recent U.S.-led ceasefire negotiation between the warring parties in Switzerland, attacks on civilians continue, particularly in displacement camps. Life-saving humanitarian aid remains blocked, and the suffering is only deepening with outbreaks of disease. Now more than ever, we must ensure that swift and decisive action for civilian protection and humanitarian aid is taken by the U.S., UN, and A.U. to stop this genocide and save lives.

The Danger of Darfur Under Full Control By The RSF

Currently, over 98% of Darfur is in a state of chaos, with the region almost entirely out of government control. Darfur, an area the size of France, is now dominated by the RSF, with only two cities partially controlled by the SAF. The RSF has intensified its attacks, seizing homes, blocking civilians’ movement, and tightening its grip on the region. If this continues, it could mark the final stage of the extermination of Darfur’s indigenous people, including survivors of the 2003 genocide.

The RSF and Janjaweed militias are repeating the horrors of the 2003 genocide on a larger and more devastating scale. Once limited to attacks on horseback, the Janjaweed have evolved into the nationally recognized RSF, equipped with advanced weapons and backed by powerful regional and international supporters. Unlike in 2003, no international humanitarian agencies, journalists, or UN diplomats are allowed in Darfur, leaving genocide victims to fend for themselves. The RSF has consolidated its control over Darfur’s five states, establishing itself as one of the most systematic genocidal forces in history. Despite this, world leaders remain silent or offer only minimal condemnation.

We at DWAG Say NO to the silence conspiracy against the ongoing and escalating genocide in Darfur! And ask you to add your voice

The Presence of Multinational Troops in Darfur

The RSF has proven to be a multi-national militia. While the majority of its troops are from Sudan, many more are from West and Central African countries, including Arab militias respectively from the Republic of Mali, Niger, Central African Republic, Chad, and Libya. The introduction of cross-border uncontrolled troops alone proves to be a dangerous trend. With the history of terrorist activities from Sudan to Mali in the region, if left unchecked, those temporary militia forces may evolve into ISIS or al-Qaeda army-like regional extremist forces, fueling crises that both international and regional actors will be forced to respond to – but it will be too late to contain them. Such a regional supply of troops from various countries equally makes control or a solution at the national level impossible. Therefore, the humanitarian crisis in Sudan is not just a regional issue—it is a global catastrophe

What You Can Do To Help

In the face of genocide and current unspeakable atrocities, solutions must take an atrocity prevention approach that starts with civilian protection and distribution of humanitarian aid. This should be followed by pursuing accountability for the most serious international crimes, which will then create an environment that enables the peaceful transformation of Sudan.

Therefore, we need you to add your voices to ours to call on the U.S. government and the member states of the UNSC to take the following steps:

• Immediately deploy UN force to intervene robustly to protect civilians and to stop the genocide in Darfur.
• Open an unhindered humanitarian accessibility channel in Sudan and Darfur, in particular, to reach all those in need.
• Pursue accountability for those most responsible for past and current genocidal attacks, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur and across the Sudan.
• Impose targeted sanctions, such as freezing assets, imposing travel bans, sanctioning all businesses associated with the two warring generals in Sudan, and cutting the funding for weapons.
• Deploy immediate humanitarian intervention to all in need inside Sudan and in the neighboring countries with and without the permission of the government.
• Hold the regional enablers of the genocide in Darfur accountable, including regional and international actors supplying funds and weaponry to the RSF.
• Provide support to Civil Society Organizations and women from historically marginalized Sudanese to have the capacity and voice at all levels of decision-making processes regarding solutions to the current crises.

Other Ways To Help

• Send our “Letter To The Congress” that contains all of our demands and requests to your representatives and call their offices to ask that they be the voice for the people of Sudan and demand U.S. leadership in ending genocide and holding perpetrators accountable. Or send our letter to the editor to the city news paper.
• Donate to DWAG or other organizations providing support to the local-level emergency response initiatives in Sudan.
• Join and support our campaign Stand with Sudan campaign! and share it via your social media platform with 100 people.

The crisis in Sudan and the catastrophe in Darfur are of global magnitude which requires global response but if we can speak in one voice and demand our government and the UN to work for an end, we can end this genocide and hold perpetrators accountable.

With our collective effort, we can make a difference!

With Gratitude,

Niemat Ahmadi, and DWAG team

October 16th: Attacks on Children Must Not Be ToleratedDear DWAG Supporters:

We are alarmed by the brutal attacks and rise of war causality among children in Sudan. The ongoing and escalated violence in Sudan has exhibited devastating impacts on the most vulnerable populations- children. On Friday, Oct. 4th, airstrikes in Al Kuma claimed the lives of 13 children and injured 17 others. U.N. Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric announced that thousands of children and their families have been trapped in regions of unrelenting violence and insecurity. Children who have no place in war continue to suffer as genocidal violence persists.

On Wednesday, Oct. 9th, an airstrike on the Fur Market in Hasaheisa, El Gezira, left over 100 people dead or injured, including children. The Darfur Bar Association (DBA) has condemned these actions, labeling them “acts of genocide”. Within the past week, the Sudanese Air Force launched multiple airstrikes on towns in West and North Darfur and North Kordofan. The toll of these bombings is devastating, with over 500 people killed. Radio Dabanga reported that Starlink satellite internet devices were disrupted in Seleia, the capital of Jebel Moon locality, making it impossible to determine the actual number of victims from the bombing. These are clear violations of international law and constitute war crimes punishable by international laws.

The war in Sudan today has subjected children to unimaginable suffering, not only the direct impact of war but also diseases including the deadliest outbreak of cholera, dengue, malaria, and measles. As Sudan’s healthcare system has completely collapsed, millions are left without access to primary healthcare. According to the U.N., at least 12 of Sudan’s 18 states are grappling with these diseases, putting the health and survival of children at even greater risk. In just the past two months, over 21,000 cases of cholera have been disclosed, with more than 600 fatalities.

The crises in Sudan and its impact on the most vulnerable children need the international community’s attention and serious action. DWAG, therefore, calls on the United States government and the UNSC members to expedite the process of authorizing U.N.-backed civilian protection forces and urgently delivering humanitarian aid. The U.N. agencies must make protecting children and safeguarding their access to emergency health care, food, and nutrition an urgent priority.

We appeal to you all, advocates, activists, and ordinary citizens, to speak up and not let the children of Sudan die in silence. Now more than ever, the children of Sudan need your voice. Contact your representatives and demand urgent action to stop the genocide in Sudan. Add your voice to our Stand With Sudan Campaign linked here and use our letter to Congress linked here.

Thank you for your continued support. Stay connected for updates and opportunities to take action.

With gratitude,
Niemat Ahmadi
President, Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG)
The DWAG Team

October 16th: The U.N. Extends Its Mandate for The Fact-Finding Mission in SudanDear DWAG Supporters:

Last Wednesday, the U.N. Human Rights Council voted to extend the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) in Sudan, which has been investigating human rights abuses committed during the ongoing conflict. DWAG wholeheartedly supports this decision and we affirm the importance of continuing the FFM’s critical work in holding perpetrators accountable.

The FFM, established by the U.N. a year ago, has been probing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by all parties involved in the conflict. In a recent report, the FFM detailed serious international crimes committed by the SAF, RSF, and allied militia as well as the suffering endured by Sudanese civilians in the brutal war. These horrific abuses included mass rape, sexual slavery, child recruitment, and indiscriminate attacks on civilians. The report also detailed the intentional destruction of vital public infrastructure, aimed at silencing the Sudanese people.

The FFM’s recommendations align with the core issues DWAG has long championed, including the deployment of an international force to protect civilians, expanding the arms embargo in Darfur to cover all of Sudan, and broadening the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction to encompass the entire country. DWAG commends the effort undertaken by the FFM. We need independent monitoring to document these atrocities inflicted on our brothers and sisters in Sudan. The perpetrators of genocide and violence must be held accountable and the extension of the FFM is a step in the right direction.

Thank you for your continued support. Stay connected for updates and opportunities to take action.
With gratitude,
Niemat Ahmadi
President, Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG)
The DWAG Team

October 21st: Starvation as a Weapon of War in SudanLast week, a group of independent UN experts accused both sides of the warring parties in Sudan of deliberately using “starvation tactics” against 25 million civilians, leaving 97 percent of the population facing “severe levels of hunger”. These tactics amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes under international law. The already dire situation has been further exacerbated by a rapidly worsening famine gripping the country. “Never in modern history have so many people faced starvation and famine as in Sudan today,” the experts warned. The international community must urgently act to address what is now the world’s most severe hunger crisis.

Multiple displacement camps are already on the verge of famine. The Zamzam camp, near El Fasher in North Darfur, has seen meager aid due to the warring factions blocking food, medicine, and essential supplies for months. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that it was forced to halt outpatient treatment for 5,000 children suffering from acute malnutrition because of these blockades. By the end of September, MSF had to suspend care for 2,900 children with severe malnutrition, with only an 80-bed hospital remaining to treat the most critical cases. Although some aid trucks have arrived within the months of the blockade, the quantity of aid available is grossly inadequate to meet the urgent needs and the situation remains catastrophic.

The UN experts also highlighted the compounded effects of the rainy season, which has caused devastating floods, destroyed crops, and killed livestock, further worsening the agricultural crisis. Mining activities and water contamination have only compounded the suffering. They emphasized the need for additional international support, noting that the $1.44 billion required for Sudan’s humanitarian response is only halfway funded.

DWAG is deeply alarmed by this man-made famine and echoes the UN experts’ urgent call for action. We appeal to the U.S. government and members of the UN Security Council to take immediate steps to ensure humanitarian aid is delivered, including through airlifts via El Fasher and Kadogoki airports, as well as cross-border routes. Aid to Darfur must be channeled through routes not controlled by the RSF, such as the Tina access point.

We urge DWAG supporters to raise their voices in solidarity with the people of Sudan, particularly those in Darfur who are already experiencing famine. The situation demands immediate and decisive action to prevent further loss of life.

Thank you for your continued support. Stay connected for updates and opportunities to take action.

With gratitude,
Niemat Ahmadi
President, Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG)
The DWAG Team

November 8th: Over 120 Civilians Killed and Over 130 Women Committed Suicide to Escape Rape by RSF. We are extremely outraged by the campaign of horror and horrendous attacks carried out by RSF in Eljezeera, Central Sudan over the last two weeks, leaving hundreds dead and forcing women into an unprecedented mass suicide.

On Sunday, October 20, large-scale attacks on Al Jazeera took the lives of over 300, with only 124 deaths among innocent civilians. A vicious shelling by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Sheikh Al-Jili Mosque and violent assaults on surrounding areas in Wad Madani claimed over 46 lives and left dozens more injured. Countless victims remain unrecognizable due to the severe dismemberment and charring of bodies. A further assault was carried out on Al-Suhra village in northern Al Jazeera, marking one of the bloodiest days of the 18-month conflict. Reports indicate that at least 124 civilians were killed, over 200 other civilians were injured, and the RSF detained 150. The UN has reported attacks on over 30 villages and the displacement of about 46,700 people over the past week. These actions constitute nothing short of a brutal massacre.

Since Sunday, many more civilians have been reported killed and others wounded in Tambol in relentless air and ground attacks. Alongside the air raids, the RSF launched attacks across numerous towns, including Rifa’a, Al-Shorfa, and Azaiba, killing more than 15 people. The scale of these attacks is chilling: markets have been looted, numerous facilities sabotaged, and families have been forced to flee in precarious conditions with little access to safe transport.

In this wave of attacks, rape, and sexual and gender-based violence have been widely used against women and girls. As a result, over 130 women have committed mass suicide by drowning in the river to escape the devastating and weaponized rape and sexual violence perpetrated by RSF in every single assault on villages and cities. This incident should have shocked the world’s consciousness and prompted them to intervene to save lives and restore confidence in the international community in Sudan. This incident of mass suicide marked the international community’s failure to protect the women of Sudan. The women of Sudan are left without option or hope for protection.

The ongoing and escalating crimes committed by the RSF forces against innocent civilians constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity punishable by international Laws. The international community, particularly the UN Security Council member states, must be ashamed of their failure to act. Darfur Women Action Group expressed outrage for not only the horrific massacre and the sexual violence inflicted on civilians in Sudan but also the failure of the international community to respond to these atrocities and hold the perpetrators accountable. We urgently call on the United States, the UN Security Council, and the African Union to take urgent action to stop and prevent this unprecedented escalation and take swift measures to hold those responsible accountable.

We at DWAG stand firm and say not to silence in the face of the world’s worst crimes – genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed in Sudan. The world must turn a blind eye to the systematic extermination of Sudan’s people. We urge DWAG supporters to speak up and shame our leaders for failing to act. We must speak out and compel our leaders to uphold their legal and moral obligations in Sudan.

Sudan needs you and needs your voice. Silence only aids the perpetrators.

Thank you for your continued support. Stay connected for updates and opportunities to take action.

With gratitude,
Niemat Ahmadi
President, Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG)
The DWAG Team

November 9th: The Echo Of Tabit Incident In El Jazeera: The Cost of Impunity for Sexual Violence in Darfur is Taking Toll on El Jazeera

With the recent anniversary of the Tabit Mass rape incident, another shocking incident of horrifying rape in El Jezeera has forced women into mass suicide. The warring parties must be held Accountable.

October 30th of last week marks ten years which have passed since the tragic Tabit rape incident, yet harrowing levels of sexual violence continue to devastate communities in Sudan. Beginning on October 30, 2014, and lasting for 36 hours, Sudanese army troops conducted house-to-house raids, falsely accusing residents of harboring or killing a missing soldier. They beat men, detained or expelled them, and then proceeded to brutally rape 221 women and girls in their own homes- many of whom were elementary and high school students, subjected to assault by multiple perpetrators. Even after ten years, there has still been no justice for the victims of sexual violence. Instead, rape and other forms of sexual violence continue to be used as systematic weapons of terror to strip dignity, silence voices, and destroy communities.

On October 26th, 130 women recently committed mass suicide to escape the RSF’s brutal campaign of sexual violence. The physical, emotional, social, and psychological scars borne by survivors are despicable and unprecedented and must be urgently addressed. While RSF forces are responsible for the majority of these abuses, reports indicate that some incidents involving the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) also occur in areas under their control. However, most of the mass rape and the systematic targeting against women have been deliberately carried out by RSF fighters across the Sudan. This unchecked cycle of violence demonstrates a disregard for international law, with acts constituting war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

Women and girls, who account for over half of Sudan’s refugee population, continue to be dehumanized. The UN has reported mass rapes and instances of sexual slavery committed by both warring factions. An estimated 6.7 million people in Sudan are at risk of gender-based violence, with displaced women and girls facing extreme vulnerability. In parts of West Darfur, the UN reported sexual attacks being accompanied by racial slurs targeting non-Arabs, indicating ethnic targeting. In Khartoum and neighboring cities, RSF forces are forcing child marriages and detaining women and girls in conditions that may constitute sexual slavery. Men and boys are also increasingly subjected to sexual violence- no one in Sudan is safe from sexual brutality.

At DWAG we are extremely outraged by the mass rape, suicide, and deliberate targeting of women with extreme violence especially the weaponization of rape that continues to devastate lives in Darfur and across Sudan. We therefore urgently call on the international community:

• The U.S. and the UNSC to authorize forces to protect civilians in Darfur and across the Sudan
• Impose accountability measures for past and present crimes on warring parties responsible for these horrific acts of violence and
• Prioritize the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to all in need to ensure that women’s emergency needs are swiftly met and we demand justice for these horrific crimes; they must not go unpunished.

Our regional and international institutions must be ashamed in the face of the mass suicide 10 years after the Tabit incident. Their continued inaction and impunity have enabled past perpetrators to continue inflicting crimes in Darfur and across the Sudan. Ending the use of rape as a weapon of war must be accomplished by upholding international law. Sudanese women must not be left to resort to suicide restore their dignity.

Thank you for your continued support. Stay connected for updates and ways to take action.

With gratitude,
Niemat Ahmadi
President, Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG)
The DWAG Team