Children born in Sudan's conflict-affected regions are frequently unable to secure legal identities, a problem exacerbated by the ongoing civil war. Many of these children are born in complex circumstances, often without a known father, which complicates the birth registration process.
Amira, a 17-year-old Sudanese girl, shared her experience after being abducted and raped by armed men from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). She gave birth to a son but has been unable to register his birth because she cannot provide details about the father. This lack of official recognition prevents her son from accessing vaccinations, nursery, or school.
According to the Nada Al-Azhar Foundation for Disaster Prevention and Sustainable Development (Nada), Amira's situation is not unique. Abu Bakr Yousif Yaqoub, Nada's director of protection programmes, explained that birth registration requires identity information, a national number, and a birth certificate, which are difficult to obtain when the father is absent or unknown. Shaza Ahmed, Nada's director general, noted that social stigma often prevents mothers from reporting sexual assaults, and many mothers are themselves under 18, requiring a guardian to pursue official legal action.
Sudanese lawyer Majida Idris stated that while the Child Act of 2010 allows for the registration of children born outside marriage, it depends on the mother reporting the assault. However, the conflict, particularly in Darfur, has led to the collapse of civil services and the closure of civil registry offices, leaving thousands of children unregistered. Idris stressed the importance of reactivating these offices to ensure children's right to identity and legal recognition.