Khartoum:A series of reports by the United Nations over the past thirty years have shed light on the ongoing violence and sexual crimes against women in the Darfur region. These reports highlight a tragic reality for victims, ranging from young girls to older women, amid the ongoing conflict in the region that started in the early 21st century and has continued into the country's current war since 2023. Alongside these findings, there are growing calls for accountability and the handover of those responsible for these crimes.
According to Maan News Agency, a report from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights released months ago described conflict-related sexual violence in Sudan as an unprecedented phenomenon. The report detailed the use of such violence as a weapon of war, noting its widespread prevalence and brutality. It highlighted that acts such as rape, gang rape, sexual slavery, and forced marriages have become defining features of the ongoing war in Sudan, which has persisted for over three years.
The UN report further confirmed that the use of sexual violence has been systematically documented, showing repeated patterns where it has been employed as a tactic to instill terror and trauma among civilian populations. This violence is often part of retaliatory attacks and ethnically motivated violence, leaving profound impacts on victims and their communities.
This issue of violence against women in Darfur is not new. During the early 2000s under the ousted President Omar al-Bashir, women faced documented abuses, leading to charges by the International Criminal Court against several leaders of his regime. Ahmed Haroun, a former Sudanese Interior Minister and a prominent figure in the Muslim Brotherhood, recently resurfaced in the media, sparking controversy due to his wanted status by the ICC.
Sudan is currently embroiled in a violent conflict nearing its third year, involving the Sudanese army and its allies against armed groups. Haroun's recent public appearance has put pressure on Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who announced Haroun's arrest. Critics view this as a superficial move to placate public opinion.
Sudanese journalist Ihab Mohamed Madbou has voiced his concerns on social media, criticizing Haroun's role in the war and questioning the true motives behind it. Meanwhile, the Coalition for Advocacy and Empowerment of Women has condemned Haroun's statements about Sudanese women, asserting their rights and contributions to society.
Al Jazeera Human Rights Monitor has also documented recent incidents of violence, including the gang rape of an 18-year-old girl in Khartoum, allegedly by armed men.
Source Maan News Agency