Sudan’s civil war grows more violent as UN reports horrific sexual violence

Sudan’s brutal civil war shows no signs of slowing down, with reports of escalating atrocities and rampant sexual violence that threatens to wipe out entire communities. Dire reports from a UN report detail widespread abuses, including by the paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF), which has been implicated in a surge in attacks on women and children.

Issued: 11.02.2024 – 11:20

2 min

A report released this week by the UN Independent International Organization Fact-finding missionexposes the alarming scale of sexual violence that has engulfed Sudan’s 18-month conflict.

Kidnapping for sexual slavery has reportedly become common, with victims ranging from girls as young as eight to elderly women.

“There is no safe place in Sudan right now,” said Mohamed Chande Othman, head of the mission, underscoring the pervasive insecurity that has gripped the country since the conflict began in April 2023.

The Sudanese army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, was involved in a fierce struggle with RSFwhich is run by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

The violence has become one of the most brutal in the world humanitarian crisesand more than 25 million people – more than half of Sudan’s population – face acute hunger.

War crimes and atrocities

A UN investigation accuses both the Sudanese army and the RSF of serious human rights violations, including acts that qualify as war crimes.

Although both factions are accused of torture and blocking humanitarian aid, RSF bears the main responsibility for documented cases sexual violence.

Allegations include gang rape, sexual slavery and child recruitment using brutal methods involving firearms, knives and whips.

Some of the attacks are reported to be taking place in front of the victims’ families, underscoring the intent of the violence to terrorize the civilian population and suppress the opposition.

Othman, ex-Tanzanian chief judgecalled the scale of the violence “staggering,” noting the systematic use of terror, especially in Darfur.

Millions of displaced people

UN human rights chief Volker Turk this week warned of an escalation of violence in the eastern state of Al Jazeera risks further atrocities.

Turk’s office has documented at least 25 cases of sexual violence during RSF raids in villages south of Khartoum, including the death of an 11-year-old girl and the abduction of women and girls.

The UN migration agency said more than 11 million people are now internally displaced, and another three million have fled to neighboring countries.

Amy Pope, the head of the agency, described the situation as “catastrophic” and one of the most neglected around the world, adding that funding shortfalls are hampering relief efforts.