Survivors of Sudanese gang rape recount traumatic experience involving infants

Exclusive Testimonies Reveal Harrowing Attacks by Paramilitary Forces in Sudan

In a series of exclusive interviews, women have shared their harrowing experiences with paramilitary forces in Sudan. According to reports, 14 female infants have been raped, and victims often suffer in silence.

A senior doctor has confirmed that the attacks are widespread, with nearly 1,300 cases of sexual and gender-based violence documented across 14 states since the war began in April 2023. The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) released a report detailing these incidents, which aligns with accounts from women who have been victims of paramilitary forces.

One woman, Mariam, recounted her experience of being stopped by armed men while attempting to escape from Gezira State to Khartoum. She was taken to an empty room where she was raped. Another woman, Um Kulthum, described witnessing mass rape and murder before becoming a victim herself.

Regional director of SIHA, Hala Al-Karib, stated that these incidents are not random acts but rather a strategy rooted in viewing women as “property”. She explained that kidnappings often occur at the beginning of an invasion, with soldiers asking if there is a girl or young woman in the house.

The violence extends beyond immediate assault to long-term captivity, including “sexual slavery” and forced labour. Al-Karib also reported that women are kidnapped for enslavement and sale in markets, transported across borders to African countries neighbouring Sudan.

Lawyer Arnold Tsunga, who led a fact-finding mission to eastern Chad, described the attacks as “heartbreaking”. He stated that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were responsible for many of these incidents, including mass rape and murder. Tsunga warned that the collapse of the rule of law has created an environment where these crimes can occur with impunity.

These exclusive accounts highlight the severity of the situation in Sudan, where women are being subjected to systematic violence and exploitation.

Source: Al Jazeera