Sudan: Reports of women being raped in Khartoum by armed men
Multiple reports have emerged indicating that armed men in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum have been committing acts of sexual violence against civilians, as stated by government officials.
Government officials report that in the aftermath of the recent outbreak of fighting in Khartoum, four women and a young girl, three of whom are refugees, are receiving support from a specialized unit. The director of this unit, Suliema Ishaq, expressed her belief that most incidents of sexual violence in the city go unreported.
"I am of the opinion that the actual number of cases is much higher, but due to the prevailing circumstances, not all victims are able to reach us and receive the necessary support," said Suliema Ishaq. She holds the position of director at the Ministry of Social Affairs in Sudan, overseeing the combating of violence against women.
According to two of the women, their perpetrators were members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). As for the three refugees who had fled violence in their respective countries and are now residing in Khartoum, they reported being raped by unidentified armed individuals.
Since April 15, when the conflict erupted between the Sudanese army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF under the leadership of Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti), over 600 people, including civilians, have lost their lives, while more than 5,000 individuals have suffered injuries. The two men had been sharing power since the military coup in October 2021, which led to the removal of civilian members from the transitional government established following the ousting of dictator Omar al-Bashir.
Out of all the hospitals in Khartoum, only 16% are currently operating at full capacity. Health officials have reported that some medical facilities are under the control of RSF forces, who hold sway over nearly 90% of the capital.
Given the ongoing violence and the limited availability of healthcare resources, Suliema Ishaq explained that her unit can only provide minimal assistance. "There are no secure routes to locations where medication is available; these places are currently occupied," she lamented.
Last week, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) stated that resources in Khartoum and most parts of Darfur have been "severely curtailed." The UNFPA reported critical shortages of supplies for the management of rape cases and dignity kits due to inaccessibility to stocks.
Despite an agreement reached between the two sides on Thursday to protect civilians and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, fierce fighting and airstrikes have persisted in various parts of Khartoum and in El Geneina, West Darfur, throughout the weekend. Peace negotiations are scheduled to take place between the conflicting parties this week.
Hemedti, the commander of the Janjaweed militia, has been accused of using rape as a weapon of war during the long-standing conflict in Darfur. Since the commencement of anti-government protests in Sudan at the end of 2018, armed groups have been implicated in a series of rapes and abuses. In June 2019, doctors in Khartoum claimed that the RSF was responsible for over 70 cases of rape during an attack on a peaceful demonstration.
