Sudan: Women and underage girls are being raped by military forces

Armed members of the RSF (Rapid Support Forces) have systematically raped ‘countless’ women and girls, including some as young as nine, during the ongoing civil war in Sudan, according to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report published by The Guardian.

Some of these attacks were so violent that women and girls died as a result of the trauma associated with the rapes, the report reveals.

Testimonies from women and girls in areas of Khartoum occupied by the RSF reveal that many were abducted, tortured, and held as sex slaves. The paramilitaries also raped mothers who were trying to protect their daughters.

The civil war in Sudan erupted in April 2023 between the RSF and SAF. Over the past 16 months, the conflict has resulted in more than 15,500 deaths.

At least 262 victims of sexual violence, ranging in age from 9 to 60, have been documented. In several cases, RSF members also raped emergency volunteers.

The report also accuses soldiers from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) of committing sexual violence against the people of Khartoum. According to the report, they have also raped men and boys, including during their detention.

HRW notes that both sides have obstructed the victims’ access to critical emergency medical care and have attacked healthcare workers, which constitutes a war crime