Sudanese women share advice on social media on which contraceptives to carry, and herbs to collect which they believe will prevent pregnancy if they are raped.
The ongoing civil war has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced 5.6 million.
The United Nations has reported the widespread use of rape by the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) which evolved from the Janjaweed. The latter committed the first 21st century genocide in 2003. About 2.5 million people were displaced and 300,000 killed.
Omnia Elgunaid, 21, told The Telegraph that she and other girls are terrified of sexual violence. They have saved the social media posts because they feel so unsafe.
‘I have heard of them raping girls and women in front of their brothers or fathers knowing that’s all it takes to break them. When they [the RSF] invaded, they went on the rampage.’
According to the UN, hundreds of women and girls have been kidnapped by the RSF, held in inhuman conditions, subjected to sexual assault, and forced into sexual slavery. Some are forced into marriage and held after becoming pregnant.
The most vulnerable areas are Khartoum and western Darfur.
‘I can’t even describe how it felt to be forced to gather the herbs [for contraception], but it felt ugly and I was filled with rage and misery. I couldn’t imagine this happening to me’.
Omnia spends her days hiding in a village with her mother, a psychologist working with victims of RSF’s sexual violence.
‘It’s becoming more tiring each day to wake up and function. I have lost so much weight. I hope something changes. Is it going to end, or is it going to end me?’
The RSF, commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo or “Hemedti”. President Ramaphosa met Dagalo in Pretoria on 4 January.
[Photo: Hamdan Dagalo by Andrew Carter]