'War on women and girls' : Sexual violence the 'blueprint and strategy' of Sudan's brutal civil war

As Sudan's brutal civil war enters its fourth year, Angela Diffley is joined by Idil Absiye, Regional Policy Advisor for Women, Peace and Security & Governance at the UN Women East and Southern Africa Regional Office.

Drawing on field data, partner testimonies, and recent institutional reporting, she examines how the conflict has evolved into a systematic campaign of violence against women and girls, where their bodies are deliberately targeted as weapons of war.

Sexual violence is designed to instill terror, fracture communities, and assert absolute control.

At the same time, Sudanese women are not only victims of this violence; they are also first responders, community leaders, and humanitarian workers..

Yet their efforts remain critically underfunded and under-recognized.

This analysis underscores the urgent need for accountability, sustained international attention, and direct support to women-led organisations operating on the frontlines of this crisis.