Investigative Report Links Sudanese Commanders to Areas of Documented Wartime Sexual Violence

Overview of Findings

A new investigation by the British open-source organization Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) has mapped 25 commanders from both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to regions where widespread sexual violence has been documented. The report, published in late October 2026, draws upon verified social media footage, survivor accounts, and official records to analyze command presence during periods of reported abuse.

Key Investigative Methods

The CIR investigation does not establish that the listed commanders personally committed or ordered specific acts of rape. Instead, researchers verified the presence and roles of these figures at specific times and locations to determine if they exercised authority where international bodies—including the United Nations and various human rights organizations—have documented mass and gang rape.

Methodology used by the investigators included:

• Verification of commander identities and filming locations by at least two independent analysts.
• Manual comparison of audio and voice recordings to confirm identity in drone footage.
• Cross-referencing of command locations with incident timelines provided by survivor testimony and UN reports.

Notable Cases and Regional Context

• El-Fasher: The report places senior RSF leadership, including Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, at key locations during the takeover of el-Fasher in late 2025, a period marked by documented attacks at medical and educational facilities.
• Wad Madani: The investigation tracks the shifting allegiances of commander Abuaqla Mohamed Ahmed Alwakil (known as Kaykal), who transitioned from an RSF division to commanding the Sudan Shield Forces on the side of the army. Human Rights Watch and other observers have documented reports of abductions and sexual violence linked to forces under his command in both roles.
• Command Accountability: The study highlights that while physical presence provides evidence of command authority, establishing criminal guilt would require additional evidence regarding a commander's knowledge of, and failure to prevent, specific crimes under their jurisdiction.

Official Responses and International Action

Neither the RSF nor the Sudanese Armed Forces have responded to requests for comment regarding the CIR findings. Both groups have historically denied allegations of systemic sexual violence by their personnel.

Separately, the British government announced sanctions on October 26, 2026, against 15 senior commanders from the warring factions, citing suspected atrocities and conflict-related sexual violence. These sanctions, which include travel bans and asset freezes, are distinct from the findings in the CIR report. The UK also pledged 15 million pounds in total support for humanitarian aid and medical care for survivors.

Verifying Claims

The original report by the Centre for Information Resilience can be accessed via their official publications portal. Readers are encouraged to review the full methodology section to understand the distinction between documented presence and individual criminal liability.