Rights Monitor Alleges Wartime Sexual Violence In Omdurman

Omdurman, August 28, 2026 - A Sudanese human rights monitor accused four armed men suspected of links to the Joint Force of raping a woman in Omdurman, an allegation the force's leadership denied.

The Al Jazirah Human Rights Observatory said the assault took place early Thursday in the Umbada district as the woman and her mother were returning home from work. The monitor said the survivor received treatment at Umbada Hospital, where medical staff documented signs of sexual violence and issued a police medical form to begin legal proceedings.

The observatory said the case reflected the growing vulnerability of women and girls in the capital's outskirts amid worsening security and the proliferation of armed groups. It called for an independent investigation to identify the perpetrators, assess any link to the Joint Force and protect the survivor and witnesses from reprisals.

Mutawakil Ali Wakeel, a spokesperson for the Joint Force, denied any involvement by its personnel and said the allegations damaged the reputation of units tasked with protecting civilians. The Joint Force is composed of former Darfur rebel groups allied with the Sudanese army.

The case highlights the rule-of-law vacuum in contested urban areas and the risk that wartime sexual violence allegations could deepen pressure on Sudanese armed actors over civilian protection and accountability.