ACJPS: War in Sudan causes increase in ‘forced prostitution’

A new report from the African Center for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) highlights the increase in forced prostitution in South Darfur, fueled by the economic collapse caused by the ongoing war in Sudan. The report published yesterday describes how women and girls in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, are being forced into sex work in exchange for food, money and basic needs, as the war between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) devastates the region.

The ACJPS report documents the traumatic conditions faced by women and girls, many of whom are forced into prostitution as a last resort. In Nyala, abandoned houses under the protection of the RSF have been turned into brothels, where women and girls are kept and exploited. In some cases, these places also function as detention centers, where kidnapped women are held until a ransom for their exchange is paid.

Forced prostitution is classified as a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute, with the 1949 UN convention criminalizing the purchase, enticement and maintenance of brothels.

Despite these international legal frameworks, the report highlights the lack of explicit protection within the Sudanese legal system, leaving victims without any further recourse.

The report includes several testimonies, including one from a victim who described the abuse: “Sometimes we are beaten, bullied and verbally abused after they refuse to pay us.” She added that women are forced into these degrading situations with little chance of escape, often facing violence and exploitation.

Since the war began in April, Nyala has been torn apart and turned into a ghost town, forcing thousands of residents to flee. With much of the city under RSF control, reports indicate that pimps and brokers are exploiting the situation and recruiting victims through social media and markets.

“The sale of tea no longer covers the cost of food. Many girls are forced into prostitution, and some have become pregnant,” one vendor told ACJPS. The economic collapse, lack of humanitarian aid and rising poverty have left many with no other choice.

The social stigma attached to those involved in forced prostitution further isolates survivors, exacerbating the trauma they face. ACJPS calls for urgent intervention to protect women and girls from further abuse and exploitation, and urges both warring sides to stop the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war.

ACJPS demands the immediate opening of humanitarian aid routes, blocked by conflict, to deliver crucial assistance to the most vulnerable.

Read the full report here: FORCED PROSTITUTION: THE EFFECTS OF THE SUDAN WAR ON WOMEN AND GIRLS