Sudan conflict fuels surge in sexual violence, 54 new cases documented
August 20, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – A Sudanese campaign against sexual violence has documented 54 new cases of rape in just one month, including five involving children, highlighting the growing threat faced by women and girls amid the country’s brutal conflict.
The “Together Against Rape and Sexual Violence” campaign said the assaults occurred between June 30 and July 30, with the majority taking place in the capital Khartoum and neighbouring Al Jazirah state. Another 19 cases were reported in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, which has been ravaged by fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since May.
The campaign called for an end to the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and urged the international community to hold perpetrators accountable.
The United Nations and rights groups have accused the RSF of being responsible for most conflict-related sexual violence, including systematic rape and abduction.
The conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April, has triggered a humanitarian catastrophe, with widespread reports of human rights abuses. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable, facing heightened risks of sexual violence, displacement, and exploitation.