South Darfur: Two girls abducted and subjected to sexual slavery in Nyala

South Darfur: Two girls abducted and subjected to sexual slavery in Nyala

كمبالا : السودانية نيوز

South Darfur

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) condemns the continued use of sexual

violence as a weapon of war. Women and girls have been, and continue to be, subjected to rape and gang rape, abduction and forced marriage. In this release, ACJPS has documented two incidents where two girls were abducted and subjected to sexual slavery in Nyala, South Darfur.

On 8 July 2024, at about 05:00 Pm, three armed men riding on camels, abducted a 19-year-old Hawa girl while she was returning home from a farm belonging to her family in Dirbat of North Jabel Maraa in South Darfur State. It is alleged that the perpetrators were Arabs as they were dressed in traditional Arab attires locally known as “Alallah Jlabih”. The girl was first taken to Wandro Valley where all the men took turns raping her before proceeding with her to their residence in Umsiala village located in the Eastern part of Nyala. The girl was locked up in the

house where she was repeatedly gang raped for several days. On 15 July 2024, she successfully

escaped from captivity when the three men had gone to graze their animals. She was rescued by some residents in the area and they hosted her for a week during which she was able to identify

the perpetrators. The residents also fundraised some money that enabled the victim return to her

home.

On 25 May 2024, Ms. Fatima (pseudo name) a 23-year-old woman was abducted by an RSF

member in Alkhwai town in North Kordfan State. Ms. Fatima was traveling with her brother in a

Toyota pickup vehicle from Alobid in North Kordofan to Alnhood town when they were stopped

by a group of RSF members. Her brother was killed during the incident while the car and

everything in it including Ms. Fatima were taken by Mr. Ahmed (not her real name) one of the

RSF members. Ms. Fatima was taken to the perpetrator’s family home in Kas locality in South

Darfur located approximately 80 kilometers West of Nyala.

Through a conversation with Ms. Fatima, Mr. Ahmed’s mother was made aware that Ms. Fatima

was her son’s captive and not his wife as he had made them believe. Ms. Fatima also disclosed that

Ahmed had threatened to kill her if she revealed the truth. Fortunately, Ms. Fatima managed toescape with the help of the perpetrator’s mother and another close relative. Unfortunately, the

victim returned home pregnant.

Recommendations

We reiterate our calls to; The warring parties to respect the core human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of

Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 to which Sudan is a party.

2. We further call upon the Sudanese authorities to ensure that all allegations of sexual

violence are investigated and perpetrators held to account. Victims must be protected from

reprisals and provided with access to free medical, psychosocial, and legal support.