Sudanese Women Endure Unspeakable Suffering in Libya Amid Ongoing Conflict

The plight of Sudanese women seeking refuge in Libya is dire as they face widespread human rights abuses. Many, like Layla and Salma, recount harrowing tales of trafficking, violence, and sexual assault after fleeing Sudan's civil war, now finding themselves trapped in a situation described as a "living hell."

In the shadows of Libya, Sudanese women speak of a nightmare they never anticipated. Layla, a mother of six who fled the violence of Sudan’s civil war, describes her life in Libya as suffocating terror. Telling her story in hushed tones, Layla conveys the horrors endured after fleeing to safety, only to confront unimaginable hardship upon arrival.

In 2023, Layla's home in Omdurman was overtaken during the violent outbreak of civil war. Seeking solace, her family first sought refuge in Egypt before paying traffickers $350 to take them to Libya. Upon crossing the border, their nightmare began as traffickers held them hostage, demanding more money and often resorting to beatings and violence. "My son needed medical attention after he was hit repeatedly," she recounts, reflecting on their three harrowing days held captive.

When they were finally released, Layla thought their lives might improve. Yet, her husband vanished while searching for work, and within a short time, her daughter was sexually assaulted by a man associated with Layla's job. Fearing eviction, Layla keeps her story quiet, but echoes of despair permeate her words: "My son is afraid to leave the house as other children often beat him and insult him for being black. I feel like I'm going to lose my mind."

The tumultuous journey of many Sudanese refugees has led them through Egypt into Libya, where over 210,000 now struggle. Salma, another mother, describes her experience after fleeing to Libya, where instead of safety, she faced "a living hell." Trafficked and held captive in a warehouse for two months, her children endured brutal treatment, with Salma herself exploited in a “rape room” to the point of becoming pregnant. Abandoned by her husband upon discovering her pregnancy, Salma now fights daily to procure food for her starving children.

The story does not end with Salma. Jamila, a woman who fled previous conflict in Darfur, shares the anguish of seeing her daughters repeatedly raped, while also falling victim to sexual violence. Her attempts to seek help from authorities were thwarted by discrimination against refugees, leaving her feeling hopeless.

Hanaa recounts her abduction and subsequent detention by state authorities, where she witnessed brutality against young men and suffered abuse herself. Reports of systemic violence, including sexual assaults in detention centers and at the hands of traffickers, paint a grim picture of the reality many face in Libya, a nation not officially recognizing refugees.

Organizations like Amnesty International and Médecins Sans Frontières continue to document these violations, yet the response from Libyan authorities remains minimal. The plight of these women is worsened by their fear of returning home to Sudan, where circumstances remain perilous. Each woman shares a haunting sentiment, wishing only to escape their current reality, yet fearful of the future that awaits them.