Death in the Shadows: The April 15 War in Sudan
The struggle of sexual and gender diversity communities in Sudan is an inseparable part of the broader struggle of the Sudanese people for dignity and freedom. Yet, it is a struggle that faces additional obstacles requiring special attention and unconditional solidarity. In general, human rights cannot be selective; and in particular, the suffering of a group cannot be ignored simply because it is uncomfortable to talk about—especially for those who hold the privilege of solidarity in a rising conservative political and social climate that sees issues of identity and diversity as threats tied to foreign intervention, espionage, and betrayal. Now, more than ever, these voices must be heard, and their Sudanese identity affirmed, even if they receive support and recognition from allies worldwide.
Before delving into individual narratives, and given the severe lack of statistics and reporting from the ground in Sudan, one unavoidable fact is that the war has created compounded vulnerabilities in an already hostile environment. Even before the war, sexual and gender diversity communities in Sudan lived under discriminatory laws and immense social pressures. The Sudanese Penal Code of 1991, still in force today despite limited reforms introduced by the December 2018 revolution, continues to criminalize and punish homosexuality, enforcing secrecy, fear of prosecution, and social stigma. These pre-existing vulnerabilities created extremely dangerous conditions once the war erupted, shattering the fragile resilience that had been built in such hostile settings.
With the chaos, any informal support networks or shelters that existed disappeared. Many of us lost our homes, our friends, and any sources of income, leaving us unprotected and at risk of exploitation. Violations remain underreported out of fear. Reports by international human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch and OutRight International, point to horrific incidents of violence, but the actual numbers remain unknown. Survivors fear reporting abuses, as this could expose their sexual or gender identity, leading to further violence or rejection by authorities and even humanitarian aid providers.
Access to basic services has become nearly impossible. Personal safety, for instance, is gravely threatened, with safe housing being one of the biggest challenges. Research has shown a direct link between shelter options as a relief service and heightened violence: individuals forced to live in collective shelters or camps face constant risks of harassment and verbal or physical assault, leaving them in a permanent state of alert. In terms of health, emergency training for medical workers since the April 15 war outbreak has not included awareness of either the physical or mental health needs of sexual and gender diversity communities. This often leads to mistreatment or deliberate neglect, while informal supply chains for hormone therapies, abortion tools, and rapid at-home STI tests have been cut off. Services addressing sexual violence remain narrowly defined by sex and gender, limited to women assigned female at birth, and are themselves extremely scarce.
As the number of people fleeing Sudan—whether from violence or in search of dignity—grows, members of sexual and gender diversity communities face additional risks at border crossings. Escaping to neighboring countries like Egypt or Ethiopia, they encounter difficulties proving their identity and justifying asylum claims, particularly as their identities clash with dominant social expectations. This leaves them vulnerable to blackmail and threats. Survivors’ accounts circulating online, though limited, speak of sexual exploitation and financial extortion during displacement and smuggling journeys. Individuals become trapped between the hell of war at home, the dangers of exploitation while fleeing, and the absence of safety in host countries.
For genuine inclusion, advocates must recognize that the challenges facing these communities are not merely byproducts of war, but the result of a complex interaction between the ongoing conflict and long-standing discrimination. Gaining the attention of human rights advocates requires conscious efforts to break the barriers of silence and denial. Given the lack of accurate data and the socio-economic complexities on the ground, we call for intensified efforts in the following areas:
Documentation and research: Recording violations faced by members of sexual and gender diversity communities, with safe and confidential reporting channels.
Inclusion in humanitarian response: Relief organizations must explicitly integrate the needs of these communities into their programs. This includes providing safe shelters, training staff to treat them with dignity and respect, and guaranteeing access to services without fear.
Awareness-raising and advocacy: Advocates should use their platforms to shed light on this forgotten crisis, highlighting discriminatory practices as they emerge. For example, in the case of Rabha—a Sudanese individual interrogated on TikTok about their gender identity—who answered simply: “This is how God created me.” Every voice and every story helps break the silence, reminding the world that Sudan’s crisis is not only about the visible violations, but also about the most marginalized communities who face death in the shadows.