Women Face Rising Sexual Violence Amid Sudan’s Ongoing Civil War

The civil war in Sudan, which has been raging for over two years, continues to take a devastating toll on women, who are becoming the primary victims of widespread sexual violence and other crimes. Suleima Ishaq Al-Khalifa, a social affairs minister in the government backed by the military and a longtime activist, highlighted the severe exploitation faced by Sudanese women.

Since April 2023, intense fighting between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced nearly 11 million people. Alongside this humanitarian crisis, large-scale sexual violence against women has been reported.

According to Suleima Ishaq Al-Khalifa, abuse against women frequently occurs alongside looting and attacks. A psychologist based in Port Sudan explained that there is no age limit to the sexual violence, with victims ranging from infants as young as one year old to elderly women aged 85 years.

The activist, who has long worked for women’s rights, stated that many women are forced into sexual slavery and trafficked to neighbouring countries. Forced marriages have also been reported as part of this brutal exploitation.

Al-Khalifa noted that reports of sexual violence have emerged from both sides involved in the conflict. Her ministry has documented over 1,800 rape cases between April 2023 and October 2025. However, these figures do not include atrocities recorded in Western Darfur and neighboring Kordofan since late October.

She emphasized that the violence aims to humiliate people, force them from their homes and communities, and break the social fabric.

Research by a group monitoring abuses against women in the Horn of Africa found that more than three-quarters of recorded cases involved rape, with 87 percent linked to the RSF.

The United Nations has repeatedly expressed concern over targeted attacks on non-Arab communities in Darfur. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has launched formal investigations into war crimes committed by both parties.

At a United Nations Security Council briefing, ICC Deputy Prosecutor Najat Shamim Khan revealed evidence of a deliberate campaign in El Fasher, the last army stronghold in Darfur, which the RSF captured in late October. This campaign included mass rapes and executions, some of which were filmed and celebrated by the perpetrators, who acted with impunity.

The ongoing conflict and its horrific impact on women underline the urgent need for international attention and accountability to end the cycle of violence in Sudan.