Condemning the use of Rape as a Weapon of War in Africa

History of SV in Africa

Understanding the gravity of SV requires a historical examination. Before delving into the current initiatives to combat SV, let’s explore its historical use in African conflicts to grasp its impacts fully. While it has been challenging to pinpoint the use of SV during the pre-colonial times because of limited historical records, it is widely known that SV has been used as a tactic in conflicts. The use of SV in African wars has been a pervasive issue since post independence era. During colonial times, European powers often used SV to suppress and control local populations⁴. In post-independence Africa, SV has been documented in conflicts such as the Rwandan Genocide and the ongoing conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)⁵. According to the report of the United Nations Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), the African states that have witnessed or witnessing SV are Central African Republic, DRC, Nigeria, Libya, Mali, Somalia, Sudan and South-Sudan⁶.  Sexual violence has also been prevalent in other post-independence African conflicts, such as the Liberian civil war, Sierra Leone civil war and other conflicts, where it was used as a weapon of war and a tool for ethnic cleansing⁷. These victims are at a heightened risk of exploitation and abuse in humanitarian crises, making it crucial to prioritize their protection and ensure that their basic needs are met.  Furthermore, it is important to note that CRSV is not limited to Africa, as it has also been reported in various other parts of the world, including the former Yugoslavia and Sri Lanka⁸.

In Rwanda, an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 women were raped during the 1994 genocide, illustrating the horrifying scale of this violence². To put this into perspective, the number of women who were raped during the Rwandan genocide is equivalent to approximately 2% to 4% of the country’s total population at the time. Further research highlights that these vulnerable populations are often targeted by various actors in humanitarian crises, including armed groups, state authorities, traffickers, and those who control access to essential resources and services⁵. A typical situation of a girl who was raped during the conflicts and insecurity that took place at the eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika in DRC. It was reported that she got paralysed and had a baby after the incidence. Three years after this incidence, 45km away from her first rape, rebels attacked the village she lived in, but because she was paralysed and could not run, she was raped for the second time by multiple men⁷. This could be the case of majority of the women in the affected provinces, who end up living with this trauma for the rest of their lives.

Gender and power dynamics play a crucial role in the perpetuation of SV. In patriarchal societies, women are often viewed as property or tools of war⁸. This abuse is exacerbated by gender inequality, where women and girls have limited rights and protection. Communities are often torn apart, with trust eroded and social cohesion destroyed. The stigma associated with sexual violence further isolates survivors, impeding their ability to seek help and reintegrate into society. Survivors of sexual violence face numerous health issues, including injuries, sexually transmitted infections, and unwanted pregnancies. Psychologically, they may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. The lack of adequate healthcare services in conflict zones exacerbates these challenges, leaving survivors without the support they need. Economically, survivors may struggle to find employment or support their families due to physical and psychological impairments. Children born of rape often face rejection and marginalization. While women are the most vulnerable in this context, it is worth noting that boys and men also suffer from CRSV in the context of detention and interrogation⁶. The Lesbian, Gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community are also targeted based on their real gender identity and imputed sexual orientation⁵. Families and communities are left grappling with the long-term psychological effects and social disruption, perpetuating cycles of poverty and violence.