October 31, Nairobi — Several women have taken their lives in Gezira state after being raped by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) soldiers, activists said.
The BBC reported three suicides of women over the last week in the central Gezira state. Two were allegedly in the village of Al Seriha and a third was in the town of Ruffa. Activists also said that the figure could be much higher.
The RSF launched a large-scale attack on villages in eastern, northern, and western El Gezira after Abu Aqla Keikil, the RSF commander in Gezira state, switched allegiance to the Sudanese army on Oct. 21
Salimi Ishag, Director of the Anti-Violence Against Women Committee told Radio Dabanga that the group had monitored 21 cases of sexual violence linked to the attacks, including 17 cases in one village. According to the UN, at least 25 cases of sexual violence were reported in several villages in Sharq Al-Jazira locality.
The reports of the suicides come after the RSF was accused by the UN of “large scale” sexual violence in areas under their control. They said that the RSF had committed gang-rapes and abducting and detaining victims in conditions that amount to sexual slavery. They found reasonable grounds for the acts committed to amount to violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
Last week, the UN also accused the RSF of “atrocious crimes” specifically in Gezira state.
“Urgent Need for Civilian Protection”
Over 120 people have been killed in Gezira state since the violence erupted earlier this month.
Local authorities reported the arrival of 30,000 displaced persons from eastern Gezira to New Half and Atbara on Wednesday. They told Radio Dabanga that the living conditions of the displaced were “catastrophic.”
In a statement the RSF accused the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) of causing civil war with the help of Keikil, the defected commander. The RSF spokesman said they are facing heavily armed forces in Gezira villages.
On Wednesday Amnesty International said there is an “urgent need for civilian protection” in the wake of escalating violence in Gezira.