Notorious Sudan paramilitary force 'raped dozens' during sit-in attack

Sudanese activists and doctors have accused a feared paramilitary force of raping dozens of protesters during a brutal dispersal of a sit-in that killed over 100 people last week.

Activists have said the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which are loyal to the ruling military council, carried out the rapes during the deadly crackdown on the sit-in outside the army complex in the capital Khartoum.

Doctors told The Guardian on Tuesday that they believe 70 incidents of rape took place during the attack on the protest camp.

The New Arab has contacted the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors for comment on the reports.

The pro-opposition committee said in a statement last week that the RSF had resorted to "the most brutal means, including rape, beating, and opening fire on unarmed citizens".

Sudanese women rights defender Nahed Jabrallah told DW Arabic last week that she witnessed the RSF threatening to rape both women and men during the assault.

Online activists have recounted harrowing details on the alleged rapes on social media and offered advice to victims.

The RSF have their origins in the notorious Janjaweed militia, which was sent to fight insurgents in Darfur, and in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

The militia in accused of abuses in the Darfur conflict between 2003 and 2004 in a campaign against ethnic groups suspected of supporting rebels.

Rights groups have accused the militia of abuse against civilians in Darfur, such as rape, extrajudicial killings, looting, torture, poisoning wells and burning villages.