South Sudanese returnees and Sudanese refugees entering South Sudan through the Joda crossing point IN 2023. Photo/UNHCR
By Daisy Okiring
Armed forces in Sudan’s ongoing civil war are committing widespread sexual violence against young children, with victims as young as one-year-old, according to a new report from UNICEF.
The report, released Tuesday, 4 March 2025, documented at least 221 cases of child rape since early 2024, along with 77 additional cases of sexual assault against minors.
Also read: Kenya seeks urgent repatriation of 64 citizens stranded at Thai-Myanmar border
UNICEF warned that these figures likely represent only a fraction of the total number of cases, as many survivors, families, and frontline workers are unable or unwilling to report crimes due to fear, stigma, and lack of access to services. Among the recorded survivors, 66% are girls and 33% are boys.
Disturbing accounts from survivors
The report detailed instances where children were sexually assaulted during city invasions, while fleeing danger, or even in detention. Some were attacked in exchange for food or other essential supplies.
Testimonies from survivors and frontline workers indicated that armed men have stormed homes, forcibly taking girls at gunpoint while attacking their families.
Ongoing civil war and humanitarian crisis
Sudan has been embroiled in civil war for nearly two years, with forces loyal to rival generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighting for control.
The conflict has led to the deaths of over 28,700 people since April 2023 and displaced more than 11 million, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data initiative.
Urgent need for action
Sexual violence has been reported across nine states in Sudan, particularly in displacement shelters and informal refugee camps, where the risk to women and children is significantly high.
UNICEF’s executive director, Catherine Russell, called for urgent international intervention, stating that the testimonies “should shock anyone to their core and compel immediate action.”
