Blue Nile: Sexual assault against a female patient by SAF soldiers in Al-damizin town.

(17 February 2023) African Center for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) calls upon Sudanese authorities to urgently investigate a case of attempted rape by three Sudanese Armed Forces’ (SAF) officers against a female patient in Al-damizin town.

On 13 February 2023, at around 08:30pm, three SAF officers approached a female patient inside Al-damazin hospital in Blue Nile where she was seeking medical attention. The soldiers who were dressed in plain clothes introduced themselves as medical doctors and proposed to take the lady to a Health Insurance Clinic where she can get better medical services compared the government hospital. Believing they were medical doctors, the woman agreed, left the hospital together with the officers and boarded a “tuk tuk” (motorbike taxi).

While on their way, they made a stop next to a cemetery. The soldiers then forcefully took the woman into the cemetery and removed some of her clothes and attempted to rape her. Fortunately, she was able to escape from the trio and she ran away barefooted thus sustaining injuries from stones and thorns. She was rescued by residents in the neighborhood who heard her screams. She was taken back to hospital for medical attention and later proceeded to Al-damazin Central Police Station to report the case vide case No. 1176/2023.

The soldiers were charged with three offences that is rape under article 149, joint acts in execution of criminal conspiracy under article 21, and causing wounds under article 138 of Sudanese Penal Code, 1991. The trio were arrested by police, interrogated and later released as they returned to their military unit. The following morning a police investigator visited the scene of crime, he found clothes belonging to the victim/patient. The case happened during the curfew time starts that at 07: 30pm. Only regular forces and people with permission are allowed to move during curfew hours.   Although ACJPS obtained the names of soldiers, they have been concealed for security purposes however they are aged 18 to 26 years.

ACJPS calls upon the Sudanese authorities to investigate the allegations of attempted rape with the aim of holding perpetrators accountable. Outcome of the investigation must be publicized. A special prosecutor should be appointed to the case should the victim wish to proceed with a criminal prosecution and authorities must guarantee the victims’ protection from reprisal.

Background

Since the military coup, security officers have used rape and sexual violations to silence women. The already bad situation was worsened by the emergency order No. 2/2021 which granted regular police forces powers to search, arrest, regulate movement of people and confiscate goods and property. The emergency order also granted immunity to regular forces against any proceedings. This explains why regardless the countless reports of rape and sexual violations; no officer has been brought to book. The passing of such orders ended hopes for justice and accountability for the crimes of security forces. ACJPS has documented several cases of rape and sexual violations by security forces, the most recent was on 26 January 2023 where a woman was sexually harassed by a SAF soldier at her family home in Blue Nile. ACJPS also documented the rape of a 17-year-old girl at gunpoint by in Central Darfur. A Nuba woman was also gang raped by police officers in Nile beach, Almolazmeen among others.