Harrowing Report Unveils Widespread Sexual Violence in Sudan's Capital

In a deeply disturbing investigation, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has shed light on the horrific prevalence of sexual violence in Khartoum, Sudan's capital, during the ongoing civil war. The report reveals a shocking pattern of abuse, with women and girls as young as nine falling victim to gang rapes perpetrated by members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a notorious paramilitary group.

The scale of the atrocities is staggering. Laetitia Bader, HRW's Horn of Africa director, stated that the RSF has "raped, gang-raped, and forced into marriage countless women and girls in residential areas" of Khartoum. The brutality of these attacks has been so severe that some victims have succumbed to their injuries, dying "due to the violence associated with the act of rape."

HRW researchers, facing limited access to the war-torn capital, interviewed 42 care providers, social workers, lawyers, and emergency volunteers to compile their findings. They documented at least 262 survivors of sexual violence, ranging in age from nine to sixty years old. The testimonies paint a grim picture of life for women and girls in Khartoum, with one 20-year-old woman describing how she slept with a knife under her pillow for months, living in constant fear of RSF raids.

The report also highlights the additional dangers faced by those attempting to help survivors. Emergency volunteers have themselves fallen victim to rape by RSF fighters while trying to assist others, underscoring the pervasive nature of the violence.

The attacks have not been limited to private residences. Women and girls have reportedly been abducted, tortured, and held as sex slaves in houses commandeered by the RSF. Some have been detained for weeks, subjected to beatings, torture, and food deprivation in conditions that researchers describe as constituting sexual slavery.

While the RSF bears the brunt of the accusations, the report also implicates soldiers from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in acts of sexual violence. Although fewer cases were attributed to the state military, researchers noted an "uptick" in incidents after SAF took control of Omdurman in early 2024. The report also documents cases of rape against men and boys, including in detention.

Both the RSF and SAF have been accused of obstructing survivors' access to critical emergency healthcare and attacking healthcare workers, actions that constitute war crimes. The SAF has been criticized for "wilfully restricting humanitarian supplies," including medical supplies, by imposing a de facto blockade on aid entering RSF-controlled areas of Khartoum since October.

In response to the report, Babikir Elamin, spokesperson for the Sudanese foreign ministry, contested the findings. Elamin categorically denied accusations against the SAF, stating that the report contains "unsubstantiated allegations" and asserting that the SAF does not condone sexual violence. He also refuted claims of the SAF targeting healthcare providers or blocking the delivery of medical supplies.

The RSF, for its part, wrote to HRW last week denying that it occupied any hospitals or medical centers in Khartoum. However, the group did not provide evidence of having conducted investigations into allegations of sexual violence by its forces. Rights Watch has called for immediate action from the international community. Bader urged the African Union and United Nations to deploy a civilian protection force to prevent further war crimes and crimes against humanity.

As the conflict in Sudan continues, this report serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of war on civilian populations, particularly women and children. The international community faces mounting pressure to address these grave human rights violations and provide support to the victims of this ongoing crisis.