Petition to Prosecute Rapid Support Forces Members in Kenya

請求在肯亞起訴快速支援軍成員

Jun 9, 2026, 14:05
AfricaInternational

Introduction

Twelve people who claim they were victims of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have asked Kenyan courts to investigate reports of torture and sexual violence.

十二名自稱是快速支援軍（RSF）受害者的民眾，請求肯亞法院調查有關酷刑與性暴力的報告。

Main Body

The legal request, supported by Legal Action Worldwide and lawyer Willis Otieno, asks for the prosecution of ten RSF members, some of whom are believed to live in Kenya. These individuals are accused of systemic abuse, including electric shocks and sexual violence, in the Khartoum region between April 2023 and March 2025. The lawyers are using Kenya's International Crimes Act of 2008 because the Sudanese legal system is not working and the International Criminal Court has limited power in the region.

此法律請求由 Legal Action Worldwide 與律師 Willis Otieno 支持，要求起訴十名 RSF 成員，其中部分人被認為居住在肯亞。這些人被指控在 2023 年 4 月至 2025 年 3 月期間，在喀土穆地區進行系統性虐待，包括電擊與性暴力。由於蘇丹的法律系統失效，且國際刑事法院在該地區的權力有限，律師因此引用肯亞 2008 年的《國際罪行法》。

Historically, the RSF grew out of the Janjaweed militias, which were involved in violent attacks in Darfur in the early 2000s. The current conflict, which began in April 2023, has caused an estimated 59,000 deaths and a humanitarian crisis affecting about 34 million people. Furthermore, the United Nations and human rights groups have stated that the RSF's actions may be war crimes. For example, the US government and UN experts described an attack in el-Fasher as having signs of genocide.

從歷史上看，RSF 演變自 Janjaweed 民兵，後者在 2000 年代初期參與了達富爾的暴力襲擊。目前的衝突始於 2023 年 4 月，估計造成 59,000 人死亡，並引發影響約 3,400 萬人的人道主義危機。此外，聯合國與人權組織表示，RSF 的行為可能構成戰爭罪。例如，美國政府與聯合國專家將 el-Fasher 的一次襲擊描述為具有種族滅絕的跡象。

However, the situation is complicated because the Kenyan government has maintained diplomatic ties with the RSF. President William Ruto previously hosted General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo for peace talks, which caused some political tension. Despite these connections, legal experts emphasize that Kenya's Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has the authority to ensure that these international crimes do not go unpunished.

然而，情況十分複雜，因為肯亞政府一直與 RSF 保持外交關係。總統 William Ruto 先前曾接見 General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo 進行和平談判，這引起了一些政治緊張。儘管有這些聯繫，法律專家強調，肯亞的公共檢控處有權確保這些國際罪行不會逍遙法外。

Conclusion

Kenyan prosecutors have now been asked to use their legal power to investigate these alleged war crimes as the conflict in Sudan continues to destabilize the region.

由於蘇丹的衝突持續導致該地區不穩定，肯亞檢察官現在被要求運用法律權力來調查這些涉嫌的戰爭罪行。

Vocabulary Learning

The B2 Shift: From 'Simple Facts' to 'Complex Connections'

At an A2 level, you describe things as they are: "The RSF did bad things." To reach B2, you need to connect ideas using Logical Transition Markers. These are the 'glue' that turn a list of sentences into a professional argument.

🗝️ The Magic of 'Furthermore' and 'However'

Look at how the text moves between ideas. It doesn't just jump; it signals the direction of the thought.

  1. Adding Weight (Furthermore): A2 style: The conflict caused deaths. The UN says they are war crimes. B2 style: The conflict caused 59,000 deaths. Furthermore, the UN stated these actions may be war crimes. Coach's Tip: Use Furthermore when your second point is even more important or shocking than the first. It is the 'professional' version of 'also'.

  2. The Pivot (However): A2 style: Kenya has a law. But the government likes the RSF. B2 style: ...these international crimes do not go unpunished. However, the situation is complicated because the Kenyan government has maintained diplomatic ties. Coach's Tip: However creates a 'contrast' bridge. It tells the reader: "I just told you one fact, but now I'm going to tell you why that fact isn't the whole story."

🛠️ Power Upgrade: The Passive Voice for Formality

B2 speakers stop focusing only on who did the action and start focusing on what happened. This is essential for legal or news-style English.

  • A2 (Active): "Twelve people asked the court..."
  • B2 (Passive): "Kenyan prosecutors have now been asked to use their legal power..."

Why this matters: By saying "have been asked," the writer emphasizes the request rather than the people making it. It makes your English sound objective, formal, and authoritative.

🚀 Quick Vocabulary Bridge

Stop using "bad" or "wrong." Move to these B2-level descriptors found in the text:

  • Systemic (instead of 'repeated' or 'organized')
  • Destabilize (instead of 'make a place unstable')
  • Alleged (instead of 'they say it happened, but we aren't sure')

Vocabulary Learning

prosecute (v.)
To officially accuse someone of a crime in a court of law.
Example:The government decided to prosecute the officials for corruption.
systemic (adj.)
Relating to a system as a whole, rather than just individual parts; often used to describe widespread patterns of abuse.
Example:The report highlighted systemic racism within the organization's hiring process.
humanitarian (adj.)
Related to the effort to promote human welfare and reduce suffering.
Example:The UN is providing humanitarian aid to refugees fleeing the war zone.
genocide (n.)
The deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation.
Example:The international community must work together to prevent genocide.
diplomatic ties (n.)
Official political relationships between two or more countries.
Example:The two nations decided to sever diplomatic ties after the border dispute.
emphasize (v.)
To give special importance or prominence to something in speaking or writing.
Example:The teacher wanted to emphasize the importance of reviewing the vocabulary daily.
authority (n.)
The legal right or power to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.
Example:The police have the authority to arrest individuals suspected of a crime.
destabilize (v.)
To make a government or region unstable or likely to fail.
Example:Foreign interference can often destabilize a country's political system.
Practice B2 words in a crossword→