Children under the age of five, including infants, are among those affected by sexual violence in the ongoing conflict between Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as reported by the U.N. children’s agency, UNICEF, on Tuesday.
The agency referenced a database created by local organizations assisting survivors of sexual violence, revealing that out of 221 cases involving children documented since last year, 16 were under five years old, with four being just one year old. Approximately one-third of the victims were identified as male.
While the database encompasses incidents from various regions of the country, aid workers and human rights organizations believe it reflects only a small portion of the actual cases, as stigma, fear of retaliation, and limited access to medical care hinder reporting.
Some survivors mentioned by UNICEF reported becoming pregnant due to the assaults, leading to rejection from family members and further difficulties.
A woman who was held captive alongside other females recounted her experience, stating, “After nine in the evening, someone opens the door with a whip in hand, chooses one of the girls, and takes her to another room. I could hear the young girl crying and screaming.”
“They only let these girls go at dawn, and they return nearly unconscious.”
UNICEF refrained from identifying those responsible for the child rapes, urging both parties to adhere to international law. Neither the RSF nor the military provided immediate comments on the matter.
“To hear of children as young as one being raped by armed men should deeply disturb everyone and demand urgent action,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell in a statement to the press.
The conflict began in April 2023 due to a power struggle between the military and the RSF, which disrupted plans for a transition to civilian governance, leading to significant displacement and hunger crises.
A U.N. fact-finding mission has reported alarming levels of sexual violence, with the majority of documented cases attributed to the RSF and its allies, while noting that reporting is more challenging in areas controlled by the military.
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Reuters has covered testimonies from women who reported being gang-raped in ethnically motivated assaults by the RSF and allied Arab militias.
U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk stated last week that more than half of the reported rape incidents in Sudan involved gang rape, indicating that sexual violence is being utilized as a weapon of war.
The RSF has previously committed to investigating these allegations and holding the perpetrators accountable.
