rebels

Sudan's regular armed forces are gaining the upper hand over the rebel militias of the Rapid Support Forces, with reports of defections among rebel ranks. Italian daily Domani reports the rebels are in retreat, but warns the conflict is far from over and the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with civilians facing catastrophic conditions.

An Amnesty International researcher has accused rebel groups in Sudan of recruiting child soldiers and committing sexual violence. The allegations add to mounting documentation of abuses against civilians in Sudan's conflict, where armed groups have repeatedly been accused of violating international humanitarian law. Human rights organisations are urging accountability and protection for children caught in the fighting.

Reports from Ethiopia's Tigray region say an alliance of armed groups is forcibly recruiting men and boys as renewed fighting between federal forces and the TPLF intensifies. The conflict is described as triggering a new humanitarian crisis, with concerns growing over conscription of minors and worsening conditions for civilians in the region.

Myanmar's military carried out airstrikes on displacement camps in Rakhine state, killing eight people, according to the Arakan Army rebel group. The reported strikes add to the heavy civilian toll of the conflict between the junta and ethnic armed groups, which has intensified since the 2021 coup, and officials have not confirmed the toll.

Rebel groups in Ethiopia's Tigray region are forcibly recruiting boys as young as 15, according to a Guardian report citing accusations that could amount to war crimes. The recruitment is said to be taking place as fighting spreads in the region, renewing concern about the persistence of the conflict and the use of child soldiers in Ethiopia.