The African Center for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) continues to amplify the voices of women and girls in Sudan by documenting their experiences/stories of sexual violence perpetrated by the warring parties in Sudan. We call upon the warring parties to respect the core human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 to which Sudan is a party. Sudanese authorities must ensure that all allegations of sexual violence are investigated and perpetrators held to account. Victims must be protected from reprisals and provided with access to free medical, psychosocial, and legal support.
ACJPS was reliably informed that during the period between 13 November and 20 December 2023, at least 33 female IDPs living in Kalma camp in South Darfur were subjected to sexual violence outside the camp. However, the number is believed to be higher but many cases are concealed because of stigma and the collapse of institutions, for example, there are no functional police stations to report violations. ACJPS interviewed some of the victims who narrated their tragic experiences. All the names used in this release are pseudonyms to protect the victims.
Victims’ Testimonies
On 25 December 2023, at around 09:00 am, Ms. Mona, a 24-year-old resident of center 7 in Kalma IDP located East of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State was from the camp heading to her workplace in Nyala town when she was stopped by three armed men dressed in RSF uniform at Barley Valley. She was asked to introduce herself and where she was headed. She responded and said “I am from Kalama camp and I am going to work. They then got closer and pointed their guns at me while one aggressively held my right and ordered me not to move when I tried to resist. He (the one who held my hand) then stripped off my clothes and raped me as his colleagues watched. After the despicable act, they left me lying down and walked away. I remained at the scene in severe pain until about 1:30 pm when I gathered some energy and returned to the camp where I got medical attention…,"
Ms. Huda, a 23-year-old resident of Center 8 of Kalma camp narrated that “on 24 December 2023, at around 04:00 P.m, I was working at a garden in Majok with two other female IDPs from Kalama camp namely Ms. Maryam aged 34 from Center Zero and Ms. Khadija aged 30 from Center 8. We were approached by four masked men armed with automatic guns. Two of them were dressed in RSF uniform while the other two were dressed in plain clothes and riding on camels. They pointed their weapons at us and threatened to kill us if we did not abide by their orders. They then tied our hands with scarves and took us further into the garden where we were raped. After the men had left, we managed to return to the camp at around 07:00 p.m. and we received medical attention...,”
On 20 December 2023, at around 05:00 Pm, Ms. Amina aged 19 and Ms. Fatima aged 19 both residents of Center 7 at Kalama IDP camp testified that while they were on their way from Nyala town to the IDP camp, they were stopped by five armed men riding on Motorcycles. Three of the men were dressed in plain clothes while the other two were dressed in RSF uniform. The two girls were taken under a tree where they were threatened with being killed if they resisted. The men took turns raping the girls before leaving.
On 12 December 2023, at around 10:00 am, three female residents of Kalma IDP camp namely Ms. Zahara from Center Zero, Ms. Naima aged 42 from Center 6 and Ms. Aisha aged 28 from Center 6 were sexually violated. The three women left the camp to collect firewood when they were approached by four men armed and riding on motorcycles. The men were dressed in sports shirts and trousers that looked like RSF uniforms. They randomly shot in the air and immediately stepped down from the motorcycles and moved towards the women. Two of the women tried to run away but they were caught and raped. The already frightened Ms. Zahara stayed and begged for mercy but they fell on deaf ears because she was assaulted and also raped. The three women managed to return to the camp at around 08:00 P.m. but did not receive medical attention until three days later.
On 13 November 2023, at around 11:00 Am, Ms. Alawia aged 15 and Ms. Rashida aged 12 residents of center 4 in Kalma camp were stopped by two armed nomads riding on a camel while on their way to Labado Street located north of camp. The two girls were threatened with weapons before being sexually violated.
Background
In Sudan, sexual violence against women and girls has escalated since April 2023 when the armed conflict erupted between SAF and RSF. RSF particularly has continued to use sexual violence against women and girls as one of the means of warfare in their conflict with the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases including; mass rapes, gang rape, domestic violence, sexual exploitation and sexual slavery have been reported. Women and girls who are internally displaced are especially vulnerable to sexual violence in temporary shelters, while looking for a livelihood, at border crossings, or while fleeing between states for safety. ACJPS has previously reported several incidents where IDPs have been sexually abused. it is however notable that most of the victims are violated outside the camps while fending for their families.