A new report from UNICEF reveals that armed forces in Sudan’s ongoing civil war are perpetrating systematic sexual violence against young children. The report details at least 221 cases of child rape and 77 reported cases of sexual assault since the beginning of 2024.
One-year-old girls and 12 survivors under the age of 5 have been among those to suffer the abuse, with 66% of victims being girls. However, the data only represents a small fraction of total child rape cases due to challenges in reporting. Survivors face cultural stigmas, fear of retribution from armed groups, and difficulties accessing services.
The conflict, led by rival generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has claimed over 28,700 lives since April 2023 and displaced more than 11 million people. UNICEF received reports of “armed men storming homes” where families were forced to surrender girls, often resulting in rape.
Frontline workers have witnessed increased violence against internally displaced people, particularly children. The report notes that cases of child rape were reported in nine states across Sudan, with the SAF controlling eastern and northern parts, while the RSF controls western, southern, and central regions, including Darfur.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/03/africa/sudan-civil-war-child-rape-intl/index.html