Sudan

In the SG’s 2025 annual report on CAAC, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and six additional armed groups are each listed in the annexes for multiple grave violations against children. The SG reported an alarming escalation in grave violations against children in Sudan amid intensified fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). During 2024, the UN verified 2,041 grave violations against 1,882 children, as well as 127 violations that occurred in previous years. Killing and maiming constituted the most prevalent grave violation, with 1,739 children affected, largely due to shelling. The UN also verified the recruitment and use of 25 boys, the detention of 14 children, 74 cases of sexual violence, 108 attacks on schools and hospitals, the military use of five schools and hospitals, the abduction of 57 children, and 38 incidents of denial of humanitarian access, mainly attributed to the RSF and the SAF. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG), Vanessa Frazier, expressed concern over recent escalations, including the Rapid Support Forces’ takeover of El Fasher in October 2025 following a prolonged siege, and their severe impact on children, including increased risks of killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction, forced displacement, hunger, and the loss of access to education, health care, and other essential services. The Security Council should:

• Urge all listed parties to engage with the United Nations to develop, sign, and implement an action plan to prevent and end grave violations against children in Sudan;
• Unequivocally condemn all continuing violations and abuses committed against children in Sudan, express grave concern at the increase in verified grave violations against children, and demand that all parties uphold their obligations under IHL and IHRL;
• Demand that all parties to conflict immediately release all children under 18 from their ranks and prevent and end all child recruitment and use, the killing and maiming of children, their abductions, as well as take concrete steps to end rape and other forms of sexual violence against children, including in the context of recruitment and use;
• Reiterate calls for safe and unimpeded access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to all civilians in need, including children.
• Call for an immediate cessation of attacks on schools, health facilities, and protected personnel, and urge parties to end all military use of such facilities;
• Urge the immediate release of all detained children, recalling that children should only be detained as a last resort and for the shortest appropriate time, per the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC);
• Urge donors to swiftly mobilize flexible funding to support the humanitarian response to Sudan, including resources for child protection programs.

THE UNITED KINGDOM IS THE SECURITY COUNCIL PENHOLDER ON SUDAN.

This information is based on Watchlist’s Children and Armed Conflict Monthly Update – January 2026.

In June, the SG published his eighth report on the situation of CAAC in Sudan (S/2024/443), covering January 2022 to December 2023. During this time, the UN Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting (CTFMR) verified 2,168 grave violations against 1,913 children (1,015 boys, 683 girls, 215 sex unknown) – a staggering fourfold increase in grave violations from the previous reporting period. The surge in grave violations is largely attributed to the outbreak of intense conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15, 2023, with 72 percent of the total violations occurring in the last eight months of 2023. The conflict also stalled and/or drastically reversed progress seen on child protection, including commitments made by parties to the Juba Peace Agreement and through implementation of the 2021 roadmap. Recruitment and use, killing and maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access all rose sharply when compared to the previous report (S/2022/627).  In particular, recruitment and use saw a tenfold increase with 277 children recruited and used. Killing and maiming increased by over 400 percent with 1,525 children and was the most verified grave violation. Notably, in his 2024 annual report on CAAC, the SG newly listed the RSF in the annexes for recruitment and use, killing and maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence, and attacks on schools and hospitals; the SAF for killing and maiming and attacks on schools and hospitals; and the Third Front-Tamazuj for recruitment and use. The Working Group Should:

• Strongly condemn the staggering increase in grave violations committed against children in Sudan, and demand that all parties immediately end and prevent all violations and abuses against children and uphold their obligations under IHL and IHRL; and urge all those with influence over the parties to use all their leverage to end and prevent further grave violations against children;
• Urge all armed parties to immediately release all children under 18 from their ranks and prevent and end all child recruitment and use; reiterate that children associated with armed forces and groups should be treated primarily as victims and call on Sudanese authorities to continue implementing the 2018 standard operating procedures for the release and handover of children associated with armed groups;
• Express grave concern at the significant increase in the number of children killed and maimed, and call on all parties to take concrete steps to prevent child casualties, respecting the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution;
• Demand that all parties take concrete steps to end rape and other forms of sexual violence against children; immediately cease attacks or threats against schools and hospitals, their personnel, and other civilian objects; and avoid the military use of schools; and express grave concern at the lack of access for children to protection services, education, and healthcare as a result of the armed conflict;
• Demand that all parties allow and facilitate the safe, timely, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected populations, especially children; and respect and protect humanitarian personnel, assets, and infrastructure; and allow civilians safe passage out of conflict zones.

This information is based on Watchlist’s Children and Armed Conflict Monthly Update – September 2024.

SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN (ABYEI) 

In May, the SG will report on UNISFA, pursuant to SCR 2660 (2022). From April 3-6, representatives from the Ngok Dinka and Twic Dinka communities, including women and youth, participated in an inter-communal peace conference in which the communities agreed to a cessation of hostilities, unhindered movement along roads, including for humanitarian assistance, and a return of displaced communities. UNICEF had previously noted the impact of escalating inter-communal violence in Abyei on the humanitarian needs of children. The Security Council should:

• Call for the protection, rights, well-being, and empowerment of children to be fully incorporated and prioritized in ongoing and future efforts to build and sustain peace at the community level, drawing on the Practical Guidance for Mediators; and encourage and facilitate consideration of children’s views in these processes where possible and compatible with the child’s best interests;
• Ensure that child protection is appropriately considered and prioritized in ongoing efforts to develop a responsible exit strategy for UNISFA, including monitoring and reporting on grave violations committed against children, building on lessons learned, and consulting with the relevant child protection experts.

The United States is the lead country on Sudan/South Sudan (Abyei).

This information is based on Watchlist’s Children and Armed Conflict Monthly Update – May 2023.

Year listed: 2003
Action Plans signed: SPLM-North – recruitment and use of children (November 2016); JEM – recruitment and use of children (September 2012); SLA/Minnawi – recruitment and use of children (June 2007)
Previous Action Plans: Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) (November 2009) *Signed as an armed group before South Sudan’s independence; Sudan Liberation Army/Free Will (June 2010); Sudan Liberation Army/Abu Gasim (August 2010); Sudan Government security forces, including the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Popular Defense Forces, and the Sudan Police Forces (March 2016) *Delisted in 2018 following compliance with Action Plan. 
Sanctions Committee: The Sudan Sanctions Committee (Current Chair: Estonia) 
Secretary-General’s reports on CAAC in Sudan: 2020; 2017; 2011; 2009; 2007; 2006
Security Council Working Group conclusions on Sudan: 2020; 2017; 2012; 2009; 2008; 2006
UN Mission: UNAMID; UNITAMS