In recent months, social media platforms have become a sounding board for numerous complaints and narratives about the alarming rise in rape cases targeting women in Sudan. This surge in violence coincides with the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces militia, now spanning eight months.

The hashtag “Save Sudan, Protect Women from Rape” recently trended on the now-defunct social media platform “X/Twitter,” capturing the collective concern as the Sudanese army announced its withdrawal from positions in Wad Madani, a humanitarian hub, with the Rapid Support Forces taking control.

The International Organization for Migration reported that at least 250,000 to 300,000 people fled their residences in the past few days due to clashes between the army and Rapid Support Forces in Wad Madani, south of the capital, Khartoum.

Since the armed conflict erupted on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, multiple reports have surfaced revealing that the latter committed numerous rapes against women and girls. What is happening in Sudan demands immediate attention and decisive action.

The Unfolding Tragedy in Sudan

The conflict erupted on April 15, 2023, as the Sudanese Armed Forces clashed with the Rapid Support Forces, vying for control of the resource-rich state. While the primary focus of the fighting has been the capital, Khartoum, its impact has rippled into other regions, particularly in Darfur. Reports of mass killings, rape, and displacement have raised concerns about ethnic cleansing, according to the Associated Press.

The ongoing conflict has left thousands dead and wounded, and hundreds of thousands displaced, according to United Nations figures. Several nations, including the United States, have evacuated their personnel from Sudan, closing diplomatic missions indefinitely.

A report by the African Center for Justice and Peace Studies, published by Radio Dabanga on November 24, highlighted a distressing pattern of gender-based violence, describing it as a “weapon of war.” Women’s organizations have documented over 120 confirmed cases of rape as of October 2023. The World Health Organization has affirmed that over 4 million women and girls are at risk of sexual violence across Sudan.

Fear Grips Women in Sudan

Social media platforms have become a platform for women to express their fears of falling victim to rape since the Rapid Support Forces assumed control of the city. Terrifying stories have emerged, depicting the heinous acts women endure, with some resorting to seeking contraceptive and abortion pills as they grapple with the reality of conflict.

One post on “X” revealed a harrowing choice faced by a young woman: her father gathered her and her cousins in one place, intending to kill them if the Rapid Support Forces attacked to prevent them from becoming victims of rape. The post poignantly highlights the unimaginable choices women are forced to make in the face of such brutality.

The situation has prompted many women to search for places to buy contraceptives and abortion pills, unable to access them due to the conflict. Women are sharing survival strategies as the Rapid Support Forces deploy rape and mass rape as weapons of war in Darfur and Khartoum.

A Call to Action

The desperation faced by Sudanese women is unimaginable, resorting to resisting rape through hashtags. When societies underestimate their armies, war becomes a battle against women’s bodies. Let us not forget that the safety of nations lies in the protection of their women.

Our prayers go out to Sudan and its people. It is time for the international community to take swift and decisive action to end the horrors unfolding in Sudan, protect the vulnerable, and restore peace to this troubled nation.