Women in Sudan protest against ‘rape by security forces’

The UN claimed it had received “disturbing accounts” of security forces sexually abusing women during the anti-military protest.

Sexual violence was used “to push women away” from protests, according to the US and other Western nations.

The security personnel have yet to respond to the claims.

Since the military staged a coup in October, women have been at the forefront of the surge of pro-democracy protests in Sudan.

“Rape will not stop us” and “the women of Sudan are stronger” were among the defiant messages at Thursday’s protests in the capital, Khartoum, and its twin city, Omdurman, AFP news agency reports.

Two people were also reportedly killed during Sunday’s protest when hundreds of thousands marched in Khartoum to condemn the coup.

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the coup commander, has defended the military takeover, claiming that the army intervened to prevent a civil war by inciting civilians against security personnel.

He says he is still committed to a civilian-led transition, with elections set for July 2023.

Abdalla Hamdok, the reinstated civilian prime minister, will oversee a technocratic cabinet until elections are held, according to an agreement made last month.

However, because the new civilian government will be subject to military oversight, it is uncertain how much power it will have.

Mr Hamdok’s future has been the subject of much conjecture in recent days, with some sources claiming that he intends to quit and others claiming that he has been convinced to stay in office by Gen Burhan.

---

Featured Image: AFP