sexual violence

A pensioner in Ou-Cordon allegedly raped granddaughter

A 62-year-old man was arrested on Thursday for allegedly raping his 8-year-old granddaughter on two occasions at Ou-Cordon village, in Mankumpi Constituency in the Kavango West region. The incident that was reported yesterday happened at around 20h00, and the minors' mother reported the incident to the police. According to Chief Inspector Raimbert Muronga, the suspect called the minor into his sleeping room on two separate occasions and raped her. […]

February 7, 2025 48

Uncategorized

US calls for immediate truce as violence escalates in Goma, DRC

MONUSCO/Kevin Jordan The United States has called for an immediate truce in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as the city of Goma struggles under the ongoing assault by M23 rebels. A top United Nations official has warned that the situation is rapidly deteriorating, with hospitals overwhelmed, dead bodies in the streets, and a sharp increase in sexual violence, rape, and looting. Secretary of State Marco Rubio […]

January 29, 2025 28

Africa

US Accuses Sudanese RSF of Genocide and Imposes Sanctions

The US has accused Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of committing genocide, imposing sanctions on their leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. BBC Africa says the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned Dagalo for his role in systemic atrocities during the 20-month conflict, including the murder of men, boys, and infants, as well as sexual violence against women and targeting fleeing civilians.

January 9, 2025 8

Africa

Women in Sudan Suffer Systematic Sexual Violence

Reuters says a Human Rights Watch report indicates that women in Sudan's South Kordofan state have been subjected to repeated rape and some have been held as sex slaves by fighters from the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias. The RSF, which has been engaged in a brutal 20-month conflict with Sudan’s army, has denied accusations of widespread abuse during the war, which has displaced over 12 million […]

December 17, 2024 19

Africa

U.S. Sanctions Sudanese RSF Commander Over Human Rights Abuses in West Darfur

The United States imposed sanctions on Abdel Rahman Juma Barkalla, a commander of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, citing his involvement in human rights abuses in West Darfur. Reuters says the U.S. Treasury Department reported that Barkalla led RSF operations in the region, marked by credible allegations of severe human rights violations, including civilian targeting, conflict-related sexual violence, and ethnic violence.

November 13, 2024 9

Africa

Women victimised by RSF in Sudan conflict

Several women have taken their lives after being raped by paramilitary fighters during the civil war in Sudan's Gezira state. According to the BBC, the Rapid Support Forces continue their advance in the territory but RSF has denied UN accusations linking them to increased sexual violence, claiming the allegations are unsupported. The head of the UN World Food Programme, Cindy McCain visited the aid hub in Port Sudan this week […]

October 31, 2024 7

Africa

11 Million internally displaced in Sudan

Rising violence and new atrocities in Sudan have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, with over 11 million people displaced amid reports of mass killings and widespread sexual violence, according to UN officials. “The situation in Sudan is catastrophic; there’s no other way to describe it. Hunger, disease, and sexual violence are rampant. For the people of Sudan, this is a living nightmare,” warned Amy Pope, Director General of the International Organization […]

October 30, 2024 20

Africa

Physicians for Human Rights record increase in rape cases in Eastern DRC

A new report published by a medical charity known as Physicians for Human Rights says the armed conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo has led to a massive increase in cases of sexual violence against women and girls. Chris Ocamringa reports. The eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has witnessed a sharp increase in conflict-related sexual violence since 2021, compounding the suffering caused […]

October 23, 2024 37

Africa

Sexual violence in South Africa: women share their stories about the dangers of commuting on minibus taxis

Commuters getting into a minibus taxi in Johannesburg. Rich T Photo By Jarred H Martin, University of Pretoria Millions of people use minibus taxis to get around South Africa every day. These “pillars of public transport” (which are privately owned and run rather than operated by the state) account for 66.5% of all public transport on the country’s roads. The vast majority of minibus taxi commuters come from […]

September 9, 2024 24