Sexual Violence in Sudan's Civil War: A Growing Crisis Targeting Children

As Sudan's civil war continues, Unicef reveals that children, including infants, are increasingly becoming victims of rape and assault. Cultural stigma and inadequate support systems complicate the response to this tragic reality.

Armed groups are committing heinous acts of sexual violence against children as young as one year old amid Sudan's brutal civil war, according to a recent report from Unicef. The troubling document is one of the first to provide detailed accounts of sexual violence's impact on young children since the conflict erupted nearly two years ago.

Unicef identified 221 reported incidents of rape against children in 2024 alone, with estimates suggesting the actual numbers may be significantly higher due to pervasive societal stigma and fears surrounding retaliation from armed groups. Alarmingly, a third of these victims are boys, who often encounter unique barriers in reporting sexual violence and seeking necessary assistance.

The report outlines harrowing experiences of children, revealing that some victims are as young as five years old, including infants. Although the report does not assign blame, prior UN findings have implicated the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in a majority of sexual violence cases, detailing a pattern of abuse meant to terrorize civilians and hinder opposition to their operations.

"The sheer scale of sexual violence we have documented in Sudan is staggering," remarked Mohamed Chande Othman, chair of the UN fact-finding mission, endorsing the gravity of the situation highlighted in the report. Evidence suggests that victims, particularly in the Darfur region, may be targeted in part due to their ethnic backgrounds, with reports indicating acts aimed at driving out black Africans.

Simultaneously, the humanitarian response in Sudan faces severe underfunding, worsened by recent cuts in U.S. aid, which jeopardize programs designed to support survivors of sexual violence. As many medical facilities lie in ruins or have been commandeered by combatants, victims have limited access to essential medical care.

In light of these challenges, Unicef, alongside local activists, has created Emergency Response Rooms to provide safe spaces for children affected by the crisis. However, many of these initiatives have been forced to suspend operations due to a loss of funding. Local organizations, particularly those led by women, play an essential role in delivering support to sexual violence survivors, yet they receive less than 2% of the total funding from the UN’s Sudan Humanitarian Fund.

Activists such as Sulaima Elkhalifa emphasize that the burdens of war leave little room for trauma processing among survivors: "Those who have been raped by armed men don't have the luxury of being depressed," she said. The pressing demands of survival and displacement reduce access to psychological help, making the plight of these vulnerable groups even more urgent.

The report from Unicef serves as a stark reminder of the alarming consequences of the ongoing conflict, with children bearing the brunt of the violence. As the situation remains fluid, further international attention and resources are needed to mitigate the tragic reality on the ground.