Doctors Without Borders Scandal: Sexual Exploitation of Sudanese Refugees in Chad

Mon Sep 07 2026 09:33:39 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Medical charity MSF is accused of sexual exploitation and trafficking of Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad. The scandal surfaces amid Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has admitted to sexual abuse of at least 59 Sudanese refugees fleeing the civil war, with allegations of food and job exchanges for sex. The incidents occurred in eastern Chad in 2024, a year into Sudan’s protracted conflict. MSF dismissed 18 staff members and reported failure to identify all perpetrators. Victims feared retaliation and often received no support, raising concerns over the agency’s accountability mechanisms. The case highlights wider patterns of sexual exploitation by humanitarian workers during crisis.

Doctors Without Borders Scandal: Sexual Exploitation of Sudanese Refugees in Chad

The international medical charity Doctors Without Borders – also known as MSF – admits that its staff were accused of sexually abusing at least 59 Sudanese refugees who fled the civil war for safety. The allegations, uncovered by investigators, include cases where staff offered food or jobs in exchange for sexual contact, with several victims being young girls.

The offences were carried out in eastern Chad and were traced back to 2024, roughly a year into Sudan’s still‑raging civil war. In response, MSF has relieved 18 staff members from their duties but has reported an inability to identify every alleged perpetrator. Officials quoted a partnership‑accredited AP news article that said MSF's internal review in July identified patterns that could amount to sexual trafficking.

Victims expressed hesitation to report the abuse, fearing that their access to vital aid would be withdrawn if they spoke out. Those who did report the misconduct sometimes received no reply or little assistance, according to the organisation’s internal report, revealing deficiencies in the official complaints procedures.

MSF stated that the misconduct is a “serious breach of MSF’s values and responsibilities, and we deeply regret the harm caused.” The agency’s statement came after AP journalists first investigated the allegations.

Contextually, Sudan plunged into civil war three years ago when its army clashed with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a violative paramilitary group. The ongoing conflict has pushed more than 11 million people into displacement and left 28 million people at risk of acute hunger. The estimated death toll ranges from 150 000 to 400 000, with mass sexual violence known to be weaponised throughout the conflict.

The pattern of sexual exploitation by humanitarian workers has a broader precedent, as highlighted by repeated allegations across several countries in recent years.

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