Recruitment of Sudanese Women: The Dark Side of the War in North Kordofan

Reports from North Kordofan describe Sudanese women being recruited into the war through a mix of coercion and manipulation, as armed groups exploit displacement, poverty, and fear. Some women are pressured by local power dynamics or promised security and salaries, while others are threatened or forced to collaborate with fighters. The article highlights the resulting harms: heightened exposure to sexual violence, limited ability to refuse orders, and long-term trauma for families and communities. It argues the recruitment is not incidental, but a deliberate feature of how the conflict is sustained.