Episode 52: Reports of over 100 women commit mass suicide in Sudan's Al Jazirah

Summary:

In this episode, we highlight the alarming prevalence of sexual violence against women in the Sahel region, particularly in Sudan. We detail the widespread use of rape as a weapon of war by way of example of the complaints against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group in Sudan. We cite numerous reports of gang rapes and other abuses, and even a mass suicide by women fearing rape during an attack. We point to the lack of international attention to this issue and call for action to address the rampant gender-based violence in the Sahel.

Questions to consider as you read/listen:

1. How does the RSF's history and actions contribute to the crisis of violence against women in Sudan and the Sahel?
2. What are the broader societal and political factors that contribute to the vulnerability of women in Sudan and the Sahel?
3. What are the long-term consequences of the current situation for women and the broader stability of Sudan and the Sahel?

Long format:

Reports of over 100 women commit mass suicide in Sudan's Al Jazirah

The Arab Spring all began with one man, Mohamed Bouazizi, and his suicide by self-immolation. He was a simple street vendor with no political power or background. His self-immolation was in response to the confiscation of his wares and the harassment and humiliation inflicted on him by a municipal official and their aides.

The treatment of women in the Sahel region is particularly appalling with little public or international coverage. Now we have this report of 100 women or more committing suicide in one village rather than face the potential of rape when their village was attacked by the RSF. This has yet to be independently verified, but regardless of the truthfulness of these reports is this enough to bring attention to the issue?

By all accounts, women in the Sahel face many challenges, including gender-based violence, limited access to education, and restricted participation in civic life. Women in the Sahel experience gender-based violence, including forced marriages, physical and sexual violence, and sexual exploitation. Rape is not uncommon. In fact, random gang rape is not infrequent. This is particularly so for those of a Masalt ethnicity. Masalit are generally darker-skinned non-Arabs.

One of the groups frequently blamed for abuse and rape against women is the RSF. The RSF is a paramilitary group in Sudan. Sometimes they are referred to as the Janjaweed militia. They fought in the Darfur region in the 2000s. The International Criminal Court prosecutors have accused their commanders of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Since 2017, the RSF has been operating under the color of law as the Sudanese government has granted them the status of “regular force.” In a 2019 coup, the RSF leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as “Hemedti”, or “Little Mohamad” was installed as vice chairman of the military-civilian council that would govern Sudan. And on the eve of democratic elections, the RSF along with others were involved in yet another coup with the army stopping the elections. The RSF is institutionalized in the Sudanese government.

The random violent gang rapes and other abuses are not just limited to Sudan and the RSF. Reports are pervasive throughout the Sahel leading some human rights groups have said that rape in the Sahel has become an acceptable weapon of war. Sad.

Sources:

https://www.albawaba.com/node/over-100-women-commit-mass-suicide-1591038

https://twitter.com/KushiteDictator/status/1849918397322072335?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1849918397322072335%7Ctwgr%5E651c1b39f921e0b625e8fe7e112251e9bcf73f8a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.albawaba.com%2Fnode%2Fover-100-women-commit-mass-suicide-1591038

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9Voctv1u-o

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8xpqvz0e88o

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/28/nx-s1-5167024/hundreds-of-people-in-sudan-have-been-killed-in-a-surge-of-violence-in-the-past-week

https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/191893/Gender%20inequality%20and%20state%20fragility%20in%20the%20Sahel.pdf

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/aug/29/women-in-sudan-facing-a-tragedy-of-sexual-violence-as-cases-rise

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/16/sudan-unrest-what-is-the-rapid-support-forces

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/sudan-politics-sexual-violence/

https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/01/27/sudan-rape-weapon-war#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20pattern%2C%20scale%2C%20and,in%20more%20than%2090%20countries