A harrowing incident in Sudan has emerged, revealing a shocking rise in sexual violence amidst the ongoing civil war. At least 19 individuals, including a disabled four-year-old boy, were subjected to brutal gang rape by members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in South Kordofan. The attack occurred shortly after the outbreak of conflict in 2023, highlighting the escalating crisis in the region.
In the early hours of one morning, approximately 35 RSF militants stormed the rural village of Habila. Victim Najwa, who spoke under a pseudonym to protect her identity, recounted her terrifying experience. Seeking refuge with her eight children in their vehicle, Najwa watched in horror as the soldiers surrounded them. They forcibly extracted her from the car, dragging her to a clearing alongside 14 other women.
Najwa described the chilling orders from the soldiers: “If somebody wants to talk, we will kill you.” The militants then compelled the women to strip and lie face down. According to Najwa, the soldiers took turns raping the victims, displaying a complete disregard for their humanity. She herself was assaulted by three different soldiers during the ordeal.
The brutality extended beyond the adults, as Najwa’s disabled son, Emmanuel, was also targeted. After witnessing his mother being attacked, he left the vehicle only to be taken to the same clearing. “They raped him from behind,” Najwa recalled with anguish. Emmanuel, who has a birth defect that affects his mobility, has since shown signs of severe trauma, waking in the night crying and suffering from pain spasms.
Following the rapes, the RSF soldiers abandoned the victims and fled. The attack has brought into sharp focus the dire humanitarian crisis facing Sudan, where over 150,000 people have been killed and around 12 million displaced since the conflict began. The United Nations has classified the situation as the “world’s worst humanitarian crisis,” with reports of famine declared in several regions.
In a statement, the UN has condemned the actions of the RSF, labeling them as war crimes. Investigators from the United Nations Independent Fact-Finding Mission have reported that sexual violence is occurring on a “staggering scale,” affecting both men and women, though the reported cases of male victims remain significantly lower.
Seif Magango, spokesperson for the UN Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasized the alarming increase in sexual violence as the RSF gained control of areas in North Darfur last year. He noted that some women reported being raped as a form of retaliation against their communities for supporting the Sudanese Armed Forces.
Reports indicate that the brutality has driven some women to take drastic measures. In October 2023, several women in Gezira state reportedly took their own lives after being assaulted by RSF soldiers. In certain localities, women have formed suicide pacts, intending to end their lives if they anticipate an RSF incursion into their villages.
The situation in Sudan remains critical as the international community grapples with the implications of these horrific events. The plight of victims like Najwa and Emmanuel underscores the urgent need for intervention and support for those affected by the ongoing violence.
