UN Report Reveals Four African Countries Among World’s Top Five for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

By Fidel Amakye Owusu

In conflicts around the world, women and children are rarely the main combatants – but they are often the most devastated. Among the many humanitarian crises that arise during war, one of the most insidious and pervasive is sexual violence.

Increasingly, sexual violence is not only perpetrated by rogue actors within military, militant, or rebel groups but is also used strategically as a weapon of war. Nowhere is this more evident than in Africa, where ethnically charged conflicts have turned sexual abuse into a devastating tactic against enemy populations.

A new United Nations report highlights the scale of this crisis. In 2024, conflict-related sexual violence surged by 25 percent compared to 2023.

In other words, for every 100 individuals who suffered sexual abuse in 2023, 125 did in 2024.

The report identifies the top five countries globally for conflict-related sexual violence: the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), Haiti, Somalia, and South Sudan. Remarkably, four of these countries are in Africa, underscoring the continent’s ongoing struggle with war-fueled gendered violence.

Central African Republic

The CAR remains a hotspot for ethno-religious clashes, where sexual violence has left deep psychological scars. Despite international interventions and peace initiatives, political volatility continues to expose vulnerable populations to these atrocities.

Democratic Republic of Congo

The DR Congo has long been synonymous with sexual violence in conflict. In the eastern regions, multiple armed groups continue to terrorize civilians.

Decades of peace efforts have yet to stem the tide of abuse, making this a persistent humanitarian crisis.

Somalia

Once on a path toward relative stability, Somalia is sliding back into chaos as Al-Shabaab regains influence. Clan militias and other factions are reportedly using sexual violence as part of the broader conflict, further destabilizing communities.

South Sudan

Africa’s youngest nation, South Sudan, remains mired in factional clashes along ethnic lines. Both sides have resorted to sexual violence, perpetuating cycles of trauma in a country still healing from independence.

What Needs to Be Done

International justice mechanisms, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), have pursued some accountability, but it is not enough. Regional and sub-regional actors must intensify efforts to prosecute perpetrators and enforce sanctions on leaders under whose watch these crimes occur.

Ending sexual violence in conflict zones requires more than condemnation – it demands decisive legal action, robust humanitarian support, and sustained political will to protect the most vulnerable.