Sudan: Women Raped in Conflict Zones Die by Suicide, Activists Report

Warning: This story contains details some may find distressing. Several women have died by suicide in Sudan’s central Gezira state after experiencing rape by paramilitary combatants amidst the brutal civil war ongoing in the country, according to statements from rights organizations and activists. These accounts emerge following accusations by the UN last week that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) committed “atrocious crimes,” including mass killings, within the state. As RSF combatants persist in their advance, a human rights organization informed the BBC it is in contact with six women who are contemplating taking their own lives due to fears of sexual assault. However, the RSF has rejected a recent UN document that attributes a surge in sexual violence to its fighters, stating to the BBC that the allegations “were not based on evidence.” The intense power struggle between the national army and the RSF has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people and displaced over 11 million individuals from their residences since the conflict commenced in April 2023. Cindy McCain, who leads the UN World Food Programme, was in Port Sudan, a key aid center, this week and communicated to the BBC that Sudan faces the prospect of the globe’s most extensive humanitarian crisis if a ceasefire is not reached. She cautioned that millions could perish from starvation. Accounts detailing the destructive actions of paramilitary fighters in Gezira emerge after the recent desertion of Abu Aqla Kayka, the RSF’s senior commander in the state, to the army. Hala al-Karib, who heads the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (Siha), informed the BBC, stating: “The RSF started a revenge campaign in areas under the control of Abu Kayka. They looted, killed civilians who were resisting and raped women and little girls.” Siha, an organization that has been recording instances of gender-based violence in Sudan throughout the conflict, verified three female suicides in Gezira state within the past week, according to her. Ms. Karib specified that two of these incidents occurred in the village of Al Seriha, with the third in the town of Ruffa. The sibling of one woman who died by suicide in Al Seriha informed Siha that the event followed her rape by RSF soldiers in the presence of her father and brother. Both men were subsequently killed. Numerous videos circulated online during the past week, seemingly depicting dozens of blanket-wrapped bodies from a purported RSF massacre in Al Seriha. BBC Verify successfully correlated the site shown in this footage with the courtyard of a mosque in Al Seriha. The documented suicides originated from merely two locations among approximately 50 villages recently targeted, Ms. Karib noted, suggesting the actual number might be greater due to inconsistent mobile communication. An unnamed female activist from Gezira, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, informed the BBC that she had verified reports of women dying by suicide subsequent to their husbands’ deaths at the hands of the RSF. She recounted seeing WhatsApp communications from a woman detailing her sister’s suicide following rape by RSF militiamen, who had additionally murdered five of her brothers and several uncles, also in Al Seriha. However, similar to Siha, she stated that verifying social media reports of widespread suicides among women apprehensive of rape was unfeasible due to the existing communication challenges. A UN report, spanning 80 pages and released on Tuesday, indicated that at least 400 individuals who survived conflict-related sexual violence have been recorded since the start of the conflict until July 2024, though the true number is believed to be considerably greater. Mohamed Chande Othman, who chairs the UN panel responsible for compiling the report, commented: “The sheer scale of sexual violence we have documented in Sudan is staggering.” The documented victims spanned ages from eight to 75 years, with numerous individuals requiring medical care; however, the majority of hospitals and clinics have been demolished during the hostilities, according to the UN. Nizar Sayed Ahmed, a spokesperson for the RSF, informed the BBC: “These accusations are false and not based on evidence.” He added, “To find out the facts on the ground, the UN must send a fact-finding team to Sudan.” Ms. Karib conveyed to the BBC that Siha was endeavoring to maintain contact with the six women who were apprehensive about the RSF’s progression and considering suicide. She mentioned that Siha was providing psychological assistance to these women while activists sought methods to relocate them to safer areas. Furthermore, she stated that efforts were underway to assist a 13-year-old girl in Gezira who had been gang-raped by RSF fighters and required immediate medical attention. The girl was reportedly traveling from her native village, situated north of Ruffa, towards the town of New Halfa, and was experiencing significant blood loss, she added. Reporting contributions were also provided by Anne Soy of the BBC and Peter Mwai of BBC Verify. For further news concerning the African continent, visit BBCAfrica.com. Connect with us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa, or on Instagram at bbcafrica. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.