Survivors’ Stories: Human Rights Abuses in South Kordofan, Sudan

Author: Masoumeh Rahimi, LLM

February 12, 2025

[Image source: Nuba Reports]

The Human Cost of Conflict: Stories from South Kordofan, Sudan

South Kordofan, a region in Sudan, has been ravaged by violence and political unrest since the eruption of conflict in 2011, specifically triggered by disputed gubernatorial elections and the Sudanese government's military actions against Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA)-affiliated forces.

Triggered by contested gubernatorial elections, the violence has displaced over 73,000 people and subjected marginalized communities to systematic human rights abuses. Survivor accounts shed light on the grim realities of life in South Kordofan. These realities are marked by sexual violence, displacement, and the pervasive absence of justice. These stories, however harrowing, serve as a call to action for both local and international communities to address the underlying causes of this ongoing crisis and support the victims (Human Rights Watch, 2015). This brief article aims to provide a detailed account of the human rights abuses in South Kordofan, explore the historical and political context of the conflict, and highlight efforts toward justice and resilience.

The Roots of Conflict in South Kordofan

The political tensions underlying the South Kordofan conflict can be traced back to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which sought to integrate the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) into Joint Integrated Units (JIUs). This integration process faltered, and by 2011, unresolved tensions boiled over following a disputed election. The SAF’s attempts to disarm SPLA-affiliated groups sparked violence, leading to targeted attacks and aerial bombardments that displaced over 73,000 people (Human Rights Watch, 2015).

The region’s ethnically diverse landscape has further fueled conflict, with communities associated with South Sudan bearing the brunt of violence. In the Nuba Mountains, where a hotbed of earlier civil wars took place, pro-South Sudan communities have faced systematic abuses, including killings and forced displacement, as part of an ongoing cycle of ethnic and political violence (Human Rights Watch, 2015).

Harrowing Survivor Accounts

The voices of survivors from South Kordofan illuminate the scale and brutality of the crisis. Sexual violence, including gang rapes committed by armed forces, has emerged as a widespread tactic of terror. Witnesses reported attacks on girls and women as young as seven, often perpetrated in front of family members (Human Rights Watch, 2024). Survivors frequently face physical injuries, emotional trauma, and social ostracization. One woman expressed the depth of her despair: “My head is full of bad thoughts... I don’t think I will be well” (United Nations, 2023).

Legal and social barriers prevent many survivors from seeking justice. Fear of reprisals, societal stigmatization, and a deep mistrust of law enforcement leave victims feeling isolated and vulnerable. As one survivor noted, even approaching the police feels futile: “I will never go to them again; they will not help me” (United Nations, 2023).

The Role of Human Rights Organizations

Organizations such as Human Rights Watch and the United Nations have been instrumental in documenting abuses and advocating for justice. By collecting testimonies, compiling reports, and pushing for accountability, these organizations aim to shed light on the plight of South Kordofan’s most vulnerable populations. However, their efforts are often hampered by the sheer scale of the crisis and the entrenched impunity of perpetrators.

In September 2020, a peace agreement acknowledged Sudan’s multiethnic identity and proposed steps toward conflict resolution. Yet persistent instability and unaddressed grievances continue to undermine these efforts. True justice remains elusive for survivors as accountability mechanisms struggle to take root (United Nations, 2023).

Community Resilience Amid Crisis

Despite the challenges, communities in South Kordofan have demonstrated remarkable resilience. Grassroots initiatives such as women’s associations and civil society organizations provide vital support, from food distribution to peace-building efforts. Survivor networks and advocacy groups help victims navigate legal and psychological hurdles, offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak landscape (Human Rights Watch, 2024).

However, these initiatives face significant threats, including limited resources and external disruptions. Marginalized groups within these communities, particularly women and children, remain acutely vulnerable to exploitation, labor trafficking, and ongoing violence. The lack of access to education, healthcare, and justice perpetuates cycles of poverty and marginalization (Human Rights Watch, 2024).

The Need for International Action

Addressing the crisis in South Kordofan requires sustained international engagement. Under international humanitarian law, warring parties are obligated to protect civilians and ensure access to humanitarian aid. In South Kordofan however, these obligations are routinely violated, with devastating consequences for local populations (Human Rights Watch, 2024).

The international community must prioritize accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Mechanisms such as independent investigations, targeted sanctions, and legal aid programs are crucial to ensuring justice and rebuilding trust. Furthermore, humanitarian organizations must be granted unrestricted access to provide life-saving assistance to affected communities.

 

Advocacy for Justice and Healing

The survivor stories from South Kordofan serve as powerful reminders of the human cost of conflict. Beyond documentation, these accounts underscore the urgent need for comprehensive strategies that address both immediate needs and long-term solutions. International bodies, local governments, and civil society must collaborate to dismantle the structures that enable violence and impunity.

Advocacy and intervention must be sensitive to the needs and voices of survivors, ensuring that initiatives empower rather than exploit vulnerable populations. Building trust, fostering resilience, and promoting justice are not merely humanitarian imperatives but moral obligations.

---

Glossary

• Accountability Mechanisms – Processes and institutions designed to hold individuals or groups responsible for violations of human rights and international law.

• Advocacy – The act of supporting or promoting a cause or policy, often through lobbying, public campaigns, or legal challenges.

• Aerial Bombardments – Attacks using bombs dropped from aircraft, often targeting military or civilian areas.

• Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) – Non-governmental organizations that operate independently of the state, aiming to address social, political, and humanitarian issues, often working to promote human rights and democracy.

• Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) – A 2005 agreement aimed at ending Sudan’s Second Civil War by integrating rival military forces and addressing political grievances.

• Crimes Against Humanity – Serious violations of human rights, including acts like genocide, enslavement, and torture, committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against civilians.

• Entrenched Impunity – A condition where individuals or groups responsible for human rights abuses face no legal consequences due to systemic corruption or lack of enforcement.

• Exploitation – The act of using people unfairly for personal or economic gain, often in conflict or crises.

• Futile – Pointless or ineffective, often used to describe efforts that fail to bring about desired change.

• Grassroots – Local, community-driven movements or initiatives that aim to create social or political change.

• Grievances – Complaints or resentments, often related to political, economic, or social injustices.

• Gubernatorial – Relating to the position of a governor or regional leadership.

• Harrowing – Extremely distressing or disturbing, often used to describe traumatic experiences.

• Hotbed – A place or environment where intense activity or conflict occurs frequently.

• Imperatives – Essential needs or urgent requirements, often related to humanitarian or policy actions.

• Integrate – To combine or bring together different groups or systems, often about social or political inclusion.

• Joint Integrated Units (JIUs) – Military units intended to combine forces from the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) under the CPA.

• Labor Trafficking – The exploitation of individuals through force, fraud, or coercion for labor, often in inhumane conditions.

• Marginalized – Groups or individuals pushed to the edges of society, deprived of rights, opportunities, and resources.

• Multiethnic Identity – A cultural or national identity composed of multiple ethnic backgrounds, often seen in regions with diverse populations.

• Nuba Mountains – A region within South Kordofan with a history of ethnic and political tensions.

• Perpetrators – Individuals or groups responsible for committing crimes or abuses.

• Persistent – Continuing to exist or endure despite challenges or opposition.

• Pervasive – Widespread or deeply ingrained, often referring to problems like violence or injustice.

• Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – A paramilitary group implicated in numerous human rights abuses in Sudan.

• Reprisals – Retaliatory actions taken against individuals or groups, often in response to perceived opposition.

• Resilience – The ability to recover from adversity, particularly in the context of conflict or oppression.

• Sanctions – Penalties imposed by governments or international bodies to influence behavior or punish human rights violations.

• Social Ostracization – The exclusion of individuals from social groups or communities, often as a form of punishment or discrimination.

• SPLA-Affiliated Groups – Armed groups linked to the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), often engaged in conflict with Sudanese forces.

• Stigmatization – The act of labeling or treating someone negatively based on their circumstances or identity.

• Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) – The national military force of Sudan.

• Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) – The former military wing of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, primarily associated with South Sudan.

• Survivor Testimonies – First-hand accounts from individuals who have experienced violence, abuse, or persecution.

• Systematic Abuses – Widespread and organized violations of human rights, often carried out by governments or armed groups.

• Testimonies – Personal statements or accounts provided as evidence of experiences, often in legal or human rights contexts.

• The Plight Of – A phrase used to describe the suffering or difficult situation faced by a group of people.

• War Crimes – Serious violations of international humanitarian law committed during armed conflicts, such as targeting civilians or using prohibited weapons.

---

Sources

1. Human Rights Watch. (2024, December 10). Sudan: War crimes in South Kordofan. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/12/10/sudan-war-crimes-south-kordofan 

2. Human Rights Watch. (2024). World Report 2024: Sudan. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/sudan 

3. United Nations Sudan. (2023). United Nations Sudan Annual Report 2023. Retrieved from https://sudan.un.org/en/274571-united-nations-sudan-annual-report-2023 

4. Amnesty International. (2020, August). Sudan: Peace agreement must deliver on people’s quest for dignity and justice. Retrieved from https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2020/08/sudan-peace-agreement-must-deliver-on-peoples-quest-for-dignity-and-justice/ 

5. Human Rights Watch. (2015). World Report 2015: Sudan. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/sudan