In Sudan’s central Gezira state, several women have taken their own lives after reportedly being raped by paramilitary fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to rights groups and activists. This tragic development adds to an already dire situation as the RSF faces widespread accusations of atrocities, including mass killings and sexual violence.
The UN recently condemned the RSF’s alleged crimes, though the RSF has denied the accusations, arguing that these claims lack substantial evidence. Amidst the brutal conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army, activists are now in contact with at least six women who fear being assaulted and are considering suicide.
The conflict between Sudan’s army and the RSF has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 11 million people since it erupted in April 2023. The head of the UN World Food Programme, Cindy McCain, visited Port Sudan, warning that without a ceasefire, Sudan risks facing one of the largest humanitarian crises in history, potentially leading to millions dying from starvation.
As the violence rages, women have faced unique vulnerabilities; in one report, a woman pleaded with RSF soldiers to target her instead of her daughter. The civil war has left an indelible mark on Sudanese society, uprooting families and extinguishing hopes for peace.
The violence intensified after a high-ranking RSF commander in Gezira, Abu Aqla Kayka, defected to the Sudanese army. In retaliation, the RSF allegedly launched violent campaigns in Kayka’s former areas, looting, killing, and committing widespread sexual violence, according to Hala al-Karib of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (Siha).
Amidst Conflict, Sudanese Women Face Widespread Violence and Desperation in the Wake of RSF Atrocities
Karib reported that Siha had documented three suicides by women in Gezira over the past week, with further reports indicating the RSF killed civilians who resisted and attacked women and children. Communication difficulties in Sudan limit the full scope of documentation, but activists believe the situation may be even worse than currently reported.
A BBC investigation verified a recent massacre in Al Seriha, where dozens of bodies were found wrapped in blankets in a mosque courtyard, allegedly killed by RSF forces. Evidence from activists and Siha indicates that these acts of violence, including sexual assaults and subsequent suicides, are widespread in conflict-affected villages.
With limited communications in the region, verifying mass suicides remains challenging, though reports of RSF brutality continue to emerge. One woman reportedly shared that her sister took her own life after an RSF assault that also resulted in the killing of five of her brothers and several other family members.
The United Nations documented over 400 cases of conflict-related sexual violence as of July 2024, although the actual numbers are likely higher. Victims range in age from eight to 75, and may require medical attention, but the lack of functional hospitals has left many untreated. An RSF spokesperson has denied these allegations, calling for a UN fact-finding mission to verify the situation on the ground.
Siha, meanwhile, is working to provide psychological support to at-risk women and arrange for their relocation to safer areas. Additionally, Siha is helping a 13-year-old girl who was gang-raped by RSF fighters in Gezira and is urgently in need of medical care.
