Report: A recent report from the United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF) has revealed disturbing levels of sexual violence against children in Sudan, with cases of rape involving victims as young as one year old.
The findings highlight the devastating impact of the country’s ongoing war, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
According to UNICEF, at least 221 children, including boys, have been subjected to rape by armed men since the start of 2024. Of these cases, 66 percent involved girls, while the remaining victims were boys. Alarmingly, 16 of the survivors were under five years old, including four infants only a year old. Additionally, 77 more cases of sexual assault, primarily attempted rape, were recorded.
The war has claimed at least 20,000 lives and forced over 14 million people from their homes, driving parts of Sudan toward famine. Human rights organizations report that both sides of the conflict have committed atrocities, including sexual violence and forced child marriages. Since the war’s outbreak, an estimated 61,800 children have been internally displaced, with many cases of sexual violence occurring during attacks on cities.
UNICEF’s Executive Director, Catherine Russell, condemned the use of sexual violence as a “tactic of war,” stating that such acts violate international laws designed to protect civilians, particularly children. The reported cases of rape have been documented in multiple regions, including Gadarif, Kassala, Gezeira, Khartoum, River Nile, Northern State, South Kordofan, North Darfur, and West Darfur.
In one harrowing account, a boy was raped at gunpoint in South Kordofan, while several children, including a six-year-old, were attacked while picking fruit. UNICEF spokesperson Tess Ingram, who visited Sudan in December, emphasized that the recorded cases likely represent only a fraction of the actual number of victims. Many survivors remain silent due to fear of retaliation and social stigma.
The psychological and physical trauma suffered by the victims has been severe, with some attempting suicide in the aftermath of their assaults. UNICEF has urged the Sudanese government and all warring factions to uphold their duty to protect civilians and ensure that survivors receive essential support.
“Children as young as one being raped by armed men should shock anyone to their core and compel immediate action,” Russell stressed, calling for urgent intervention to address the crisis.
