EVER since the June 30 1989 coup that brought the Muslim Brotherhood to power, Sudanese women have endured decades of oppression, with their political, social, economic and cultural rights systematically stripped away. They have suffered some of the most heinous forms of abuse and exploitation.

Despite these challenges, Sudanese women have persisted in their courageous struggle, leading the masses and sacrificing their own lives. We warmly remember martyrs such as Tayeh Abu Aqleh, Sarah Abdelbagi, Mayada John and Sit Alnafour, among others. 

Their efforts and their sacrifices culminated in the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir, whose regime had eroded women’s rights, including equal pay, maternity leave, healthcare, child nutrition and workplace protections.

However, the reality remains unchanged under the leadership of the generals of the Security Committee of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who have plunged the country into a destructive war, perpetuating parasitic capitalism that continues to plunder, deepen foreign dependence and undermine national sovereignty in Sudan.

Since the outbreak of the war, Sudanese women have been subjected to various brutal acts, including sexual violence, rape, human trafficking, displacement and detention for purposes of sexual slavery and recruitment, primarily by the RSF and SAF belligerents. 

Reports indicate that over 189 cases of rape were recorded between April and December 2023, with an additional 81 cases resulting in death — 61 of these occurred after the militias entered Gezira State following the SAF’s withdrawal, and 21 after the militias entered Sennar. 

Women have also been victims of indiscriminate artillery shelling by both sides. The United Nations Population Fund estimates that 6.7 million Sudanese, predominantly women, are at risk of gender-based violence.

In addition to these horrific crimes, Sudanese women bear the brunt of this war in the refugee camps and shelters, where they continue to be exploited in the worst ways, even in Egypt. Reports have highlighted several cases of sexual assault and inhumane conditions, such as those recorded at the Ulala camp in Ethiopia, as one example of many.

As the heads of households grapple with the burden of living expenses amid widespread job losses, profiteering and inflation, the cohesion of Sudanese families is under increasing strain. This growing pressure has accelerated the disintegration of family units in the face of ongoing and sharpening economic and health crises, characterised by a scarcity of healthcare provision, rampant epidemics, severe food shortages, widespread famine and profound psychological trauma afflicting the population at large.

Sudanese women face these challenges as if themselves engaged in a personal battle with the warring parties, having defeated them once already with their resounding ululations at 1pm during the country’s revolution.

During the Sudanese Revolution, a “zaghrouta” ululation from female protesters sounding at 1pm Khartoum time would signal the beginning of an organised mass protest centred on a particular theme or slogan. 

On April 6 2019, one such protest saw the masses marching to and occupying the square in front of the Sudanese military’s headquarters in Khartoum, marking the final act before the fall of the dictator Bashir and his despised regime five days later.

So Sudanese women have triumphed and will continue to triumph through their struggle and resilience, standing steadfast alongside the masses in a popular front that will end the war, reclaim the revolution, and bring the killers and criminals to justice.

We also observe the international community’s neglect of its responsibilities and the failure of civil society organisations, which have concentrated exclusively on the needs of urban women while claiming to represent all women. These organisations have failed to protect Sudanese women, offering only timid and weak condemnations without following up with concrete actions on the ground.

In conclusion, the struggle of Sudanese women will persist despite the violence and challenges they face amid war and displacement. Since the establishment of the Sudanese Women’s Union in 1952, they have remained unwavering in their pursuit of equal rights. Today, they stand with other active forces to end the war, a crucial step toward realising the goals of the December 2018 revolution.

Long live the heroic struggle of Sudanese women!

Mohamed Khalid is a member of Omdurman’s Karari Resistance Committee, part of the national network of popular Sudanese Resistance Committees. This article was originally published by the anti-imperialist organisation liberationorg.co.uk.