In Port Sudan, a Sudanese survivor of rape cradles her baby in her arms, the child bearing her mother’s eyes and smile but none of her father, one of three paramilitary fighters who assaulted her in Khartoum two years ago.
Nesma, a 26-year-old graduate, vividly recalls her attackers’ faces and has met other rape victims across war-torn Sudan.
Yasser, a child born from rape, is one of many such cases since the conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in April 2023.
Nesma, fleeing the capital at the war’s onset, was assaulted by three men while traveling back for official documents. The RSF fighters, notorious for systematic sexual violence, orchestrated the attack according to UN experts.
The trauma was so severe that Nesma only realized her pregnancy five months later, eventually deciding to keep the baby despite initial doubts.
Shame and silence envelop many rape survivors in Sudan, with the majority not reporting the incidents. The Minister of Social Affairs estimates thousands of rape victims but notes the lack of official records due to stigma and informal procedures like abortions or adoptions.
With rape used as a weapon of war in Sudan, victims endure deep scars and societal rejection, facing a long road of psychological and legal battles.
The long-lasting effects of rape continue to haunt survivors, many of whom grapple with the dual role of being a mother and father to their children born from violence.
For victims like Nesma and others, the fight for their children’s legal status, healthcare, and education is an uphill battle in a society still reeling from the impact of widespread sexual violence.
Names have been changed to protect the victims’ identities.
