Keypoints:
- Sexual violence used as a weapon of war
- Coups and instability deepen survivor risk
- June 19 calls for justice and protection
EVERY year on June 19, the world pauses to reflect on one of the most brutal, yet often invisible, weapons of war: sexual violence in conflict. Designated as the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, this solemn observance commemorates the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1820 in 2008 — the first resolution to explicitly recognise conflict-related sexual violence as a tactic of war and a threat to international peace and security.
For many survivors across the African continent, particularly women and children, this day is not only a remembrance but a call for justice, healing, and accountability. While global in scope, the scars of sexual violence in conflict run especially deep in African nations grappling with war, instability, and — increasingly in recent years — the aftermath of military coups.
Weapon of war: Sexual violence as a military strategy
Conflict-related sexual violence is not incidental. It is strategic. Perpetrators use rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage, and other forms of abuse to terrorise populations, displace communities, and shatter social fabric. In many African conflicts, women’s bodies have been used as battlegrounds — targeted to punish, to intimidate, and to destroy ethnic or political groups from within.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), often described as the ‘rape capital of the world,’ sexual violence has persisted for decades, despite peace agreements and international attention. Armed groups have systematically used rape to control villages and extract loyalty. Survivors, often ostracised by their communities, are left to navigate the dual trauma of physical violation and social rejection.
In South Sudan, both government and opposition forces have been accused of widespread sexual violence. Reports by the UN have documented horrific accounts of gang rape, abductions, and mutilation — crimes often committed with impunity. In Somalia, the protracted conflict has left women and girls vulnerable in displacement camps, where perpetrators range from militia members to peacekeepers.
In Sudan, where brutal fighting erupted again in 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, the use of sexual violence as a tactic of war has returned with horrifying regularity. Human rights groups and UN agencies have documented widespread rape, abductions, and sexual slavery, particularly in West Darfur and Khartoum. With infrastructure destroyed and humanitarian access restricted, survivors are left without essential medical care or pathways to justice.
Post-coup impunity fuels gender-based abuse
In West Africa’s coup belt — countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Niger — repeated military takeovers have weakened institutions, dismantled protections, and opened the door for impunity. These conditions allow sexual violence to flourish.
Burkina Faso has seen a dramatic rise in gender-based violence as extremist groups seize territory and communities flee in fear. Displaced women and girls, particularly in camps, are at heightened risk of exploitation and abuse. With the rule of law undermined, reporting mechanisms are eroded, and justice remains elusive.
In Mali, destabilised by jihadist insurgencies, governance breakdown has brought increased forced marriages, rape, and movement restrictions. In regions like Gao and Timbuktu, survivors often fear retribution if they speak out — and in many cases, there is no one left to listen.
Guinea and Niger, both experiencing post-coup instability and long-standing societal silences around sexual violence, face a double burden. In these fragile states, conflict-related sexual violence becomes an extension of broader political violence, targeting the most vulnerable with devastating precision.
Healing and justice: What survivors need now
The consequences of sexual violence in conflict are profound and enduring. For survivors, the impact includes physical injury, sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, and deep psychological trauma. Children born of rape often face stigma, rejection, and identity crises, living reminders of conflict their communities wish to forget.
But the damage goes beyond individual victims. Sexual violence fractures families, destabilises communities, and erodes trust in institutions meant to protect. It feeds cycles of poverty, reinforces gender inequality, and undermines peacebuilding. When societies fail to acknowledge and address these crimes, they carry forward the trauma into future generations.
Moreover, these crimes delegitimise peace processes. A settlement that ignores the suffering of survivors or fails to hold perpetrators accountable is no peace at all. Sustainable peace demands justice, healing, and the restoration of dignity to those harmed.
The AU’s role in ending wartime sexual violence
The designation of June 19 as the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict was not just symbolic. It marked a turning point in global recognition of these crimes. UN Security Council Resolution 1820 was a watershed, linking sexual violence directly to peace and security and mandating accountability.
Following this, the UN Secretary-General’s Policy Committee launched the system-wide initiative United Nations Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict to unify efforts, strengthen advocacy, mobilise resources, and support survivors.
The African Union (AU) also has a crucial role to play. As the continent’s lead peace and security body, the AU must elevate conflict-related sexual violence to the highest political level. Its Peace and Security Council has acknowledged gender-based violence in its frameworks — but more enforcement, monitoring, and survivor-centred programming are needed.
Tools such as the African Standby Force, FemWise-Africa, and partnerships with regional blocs like ECOWAS and IGAD must be deployed to strengthen early warning systems and ensure rapid responses in areas where sexual violence is used as a weapon. Political transitions and post-coup arrangements must incorporate robust gender protections and uphold international human rights standards.
The war is not over until women are safe
This June 19, we must go beyond commemoration. Some players must take the lead.
First, African governments — even transitional or military-led — must prioritise civilian protection and prosecute sexual violence as a war crime. Amnesty for perpetrators should never be part of peace deals. Survivors need to see justice, not compromise.
Second, international actors and donors must continue to invest in survivor-centred services: medical care, trauma counselling, legal aid, and economic reintegration. In places like South Sudan and the DRC, community-based healing initiatives have shown promise, but require sustained support.
Third, media, civil society, and religious leaders must work to end the culture of silence. Survivor testimonies, shared voluntarily and safely, are powerful tools for change. Ending stigma is essential to healing.
Fourth, the AU and ECOWAS must ensure responses to coups include not only political negotiations but also rigorous human rights monitoring — especially around gender-based violence. Peace and democracy must not come at the cost of women’s safety.
Africa is no stranger to conflict, nor to resilience. Across the continent, survivors are rising, organising, and demanding justice. From the Panzi Foundation in the DRC to grassroots women’s networks across the Sahel and Sudan, once-silenced voices are now leading.
But their courage must be met with political will. The continent cannot ignore the wounds left by conflict-related sexual violence. As new conflicts emerge and military takeovers erode protections, coordinated response is more urgent than ever.
Sexual violence in war is not just a gender issue — it is a peace and security issue, a development issue, and a moral crisis. Let June 19 remind us that peace is not merely the absence of bullets, but the presence of justice, healing, and dignity for all.
Until women and girls are safe in times of war and peace, the work remains unfinished. Let Africa lead by example — not in silence, but in action.
