Despite having been going on for 17 months, millions of people in Sudan are still suffering as a result of the civil conflict. The capital city of Khartoum is among the locations hit the worst by the fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The battle has recently escalated significantly with the army’s operation to reclaim portions of the capital that the RSF had been holding.
The Conflict’s Epicenter: Khartoum
The RSF has taken over much of Khartoum since the war started while the army is still in charge of Omdurman, a city across the Nile River. The military’s decision to attack two strategically important bridges in long-contested areas was a calculated move. According to reports, the army has now gained control of the eastern side of a bridge, which is a crucial step in their mission to retake the city, after the fighting began.
Some citizens still dare to cross into enemy territory, even if fighting is still going on. You can see firsthand the dire circumstances that people endure at one such place. As they risk their lives to bring food and supplies to areas affected by the conflict, women especially continue to experience its devastating effects.
Heroic Women in the Face of Adversity
Women from Dar es Salaam, a region controlled by the RSF, are among those negotiating this dangerous terrain. In army-controlled Omdurman, these women endure long journeys to get to a market where food is marginally less expensive. They put themselves in grave danger since RSF militants frequently commit acts of violence, theft, and unlawful detentions against their husbands. A woman said that the males stay home and the ladies must make these dangerous journeys. We put up with all this trouble so that we can provide for our kids’ food. “We require food; we are ravenous,” she exclaimed.
The risks are not limited to food shortages. There is always the risk of sexual violence. One of the women finally spoke up when asked about their safety, breaking the stillness and asking, “Where is the world?” “Why won’t you lend us a hand?” Her revelation of the unspeakable tragedies that many women face brought tears to her eyes. Lots of women around here have been victims of sexual assault, but they don’t come out and say anything. After all, wouldn’t it make no difference? The terrifying truth is revealed by her words: When women are late coming back from the market, RSF militants would often hold them captive for days and subject them to unspeakable brutality.
Sexual Assault: A Tool of Conflict
Sexual violence has been a defining and horrifying feature of this protracted war. The battle, which began as a power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese army, has since descended into anarchy, attracting both international troops and other local groups. Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Turk has spoken out against rape, calling it “a weapon of war” and a horrific tactic that traumatizes and devastates those who experience it.
The United Nations fact-finding mission found multiple cases of sexual violence and rape, most of which were perpetrated by the RSF and its affiliated militias. The vast majority of complaints involve the RSF, while there are a few reports of infractions by the army. There has been a serious violation of international law by these crimes.
One eyewitness described the harrowing ordeal she endured when RSF soldiers stormed her home and tried to attack her two young daughters, ages 10 and 17. The courageous woman spoke out against the soldiers, demanding, “If you want to rape anyone, it has to be me.” Unlike her daughters, she did not able to flee. The pervasive and systemic character of these infractions is demonstrated by her testimony, which is one among numerous.
A Devastated Nation: The Fallout from Wars Past
The ongoing conflict is having a catastrophic impact on Sudan. Cities like Khartoum and Omdurman have been hit particularly hard by the war, which has wreaked havoc across the country. Many people fleeing the violence have flocked to Souk al-Har and similar markets in search of cheap items. The United Nations estimates that over 10.5 million people have been displaced, or forced to leave their homes as a result of the violence; this is a massive humanitarian catastrophe.
Areas that were previously prosperous are now little more than ruins because to the continuous bombings and street fighting. Devastated buildings, scorched stores, and wrecked cars testify to the country’s recent descent into chaos. There is more than meets the eye; entire neighborhoods have been leveled, families have been uprooted, and lives will never be the same.
What the Hell Is Going On With the World?
Many survivors have voiced the unsettling question, “Where is the world?” Very little has been done to address their pleas for assistance. There has been little international action in response to the abundant evidence of pervasive sexual violence and human rights abuses. Survivors’ testimonies reveal a different story—one of systematic torture, anarchy, and unregulated brutality—than the one the RSF has told international investigators it is taking to avoid these crimes.
