Witnesses in Sudan’s Darfur region accuse the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of systematically abducting children during its brutal civil war. According to over two dozen accounts gathered by Reuters, fighters sometimes killed parents first before taking the children. The RSF is allegedly abducting children for use as slaves to herd animals, among other purposes. These incidents date back to 2023 and include the October takeover of al-Fashir. Consequently, legal experts say these acts may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, including enslavement.
The witnesses, now refugees in Chad or the town of Tawila, described twenty-three separate incidents involving at least fifty-six children. The children’s ages ranged from two months to seventeen years. The RSF did not respond to specific requests for comment on these allegations. Previously, it has denied deliberately targeting civilians and claims to investigate abuses. However, the pattern echoes the actions of the Janjaweed militias, from which the RSF evolved, who were accused of similar atrocities and genocide in Darfur two decades ago.
A Pattern of Atrocities During Al-Fashir’s Fall
The fall of al-Fashir in October 2025 appears to have been a particularly intense period for these crimes. Ten witnesses in Chad described RSF fighters abducting children during the city’s takeover. One witness, Madina Adam Khamis, described a horrific scene at al-Fashir University. She stated a fighter known as Abu Lulu shot multiple captives, including children and a pregnant woman. He then took three girls, two boys, and a two-month-old baby whose mothers had been killed.
Another witness, Mohammed Adam Bashir, saw fighters take three young children after shooting their mothers dead near Torro village. The fighters placed the children in an armored vehicle. The RSF previously confirmed Abu Lulu is in its custody under investigation for abuses in al-Fashir. His case gained global attention after verified videos showed him executing unarmed captives. These personal testimonies provide a chilling glimpse into the paramilitary’s conduct during its military victories.
Allegations of Enslavement and Racial Motivation
Four witnesses said RSF fighters explicitly told families the abducted children would be used as slaves to herd livestock. This aligns with a history of such practices in the region. A recent Amnesty International report documented a child abducted from the Zamzam displacement camp. He was chained at night and forced to herd sheep for over six weeks until his family paid a ransom. This account suggests a system of abduction for labor and extortion.
Seven witnesses reported fighters using the term “falungiat,” a derogatory term meaning “house slaves,” for the children. They also described fighters using racial slurs against them, primarily from the Zaghawa tribe. The RSF’s forces are predominantly Arab, while many victims in these accounts are from non-Arab ethnic groups. This suggests racial motivations may underpin the campaign of abducting children, echoing the ethnic dimensions of the earlier Darfur genocide.
Legal Repercussions and International Response
International legal experts have labeled these actions potential war crimes. Patricia Sellers, a former special adviser on slavery crimes at the International Criminal Court, said the accounts may constitute acts of enslavement and slave trading. These violate multiple international treaties. The deputy ICC prosecutor, Nazhat Shameem Khan, confirmed the court is investigating crimes in al-Fashir, focusing on violence against women and children. She believes war crimes and crimes against humanity occurred there.
The United Nations children’s agency UNICEF stated the reports are consistent with a broader pattern of grave violations against children in Sudan. The Sudanese army, in a statement, said such acts were consistent with the historic behavior of the Janjaweed militias. It asserted the government cannot leave citizens hostage to militia violence. However, the army itself stands accused of widespread human rights abuses, creating a context of pervasive impunity where all parties operate without restraint.
The Historical Echoes and Scale of the Crisis
The RSF evolved directly from the Janjaweed militias used by former dictator Omar al-Bashir. Those militias were accused of genocide in the early 2000s, including abducting children for domestic work, herding, and sexual slavery. The current witness accounts indicate a tragic recurrence of these practices. The war, which began in April 2023, has created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis according to the UN. It has caused famine, disease, and displaced millions.
Determining the total number of children abducted is currently impossible. Reuters documented 56 children across 23 incidents, but this is likely a fraction of the total. The chaos of war, lack of access for journalists and investigators, and the terrorized population mean most crimes go unrecorded. The RSF’s consolidation of power over Darfur further obstructs independent scrutiny. This allows the alleged practice of abducting children to continue with little external interference.
A Crisis With No End in Sight
The conflict shows no signs of abating, meaning more children are at extreme risk. The systematic nature of the abductions, as described, suggests a deliberate tactic rather than random acts by rogue fighters. It serves to terrorize populations, extract labor, and possibly indoctrinate future fighters. For the families, the loss is catastrophic, compounding the trauma of displacement, violence, and hunger.
The international response has been largely inadequate. Diplomatic efforts have stalled, and humanitarian aid is severely hampered. Without meaningful pressure, accountability, or a change in the war’s dynamics, the pattern of abducting children will almost certainly persist. It represents one of the darkest elements of a conflict that has resurrected the specter of genocide in Darfur, betraying a generation of children and the world’s repeated promises of “never again.”
