Sudan

The ongoing armed conflict in Sudan—which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—has triggered one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with over 11 million people displaced internally or across borders and widespread civilian suffering. Violence and mass displacement have been accompanied by the collapse of civilian protection mechanisms. The war has disproportionately affected groups already facing structural discrimination. The criminalization of same-sex relations, pervasive social stigma, and the absence of legal protections place LGBTIQ individuals at heightened risk during displacement, including exposure to violence, exclusion from family and community support networks, and barriers to accessing humanitarian assistance. The conflict has therefore intensified pre-existing vulnerabilities, magnifying the need for inclusive humanitarian and protection responses that explicitly address sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics.

In Sudan, prior to the war and currently, same-sex intimacy is criminalized under Article 148 of the penal code, which prohibits “sodomy” and “indecency.” In 2020, Sudan made a significant legal shift by repealing the death penalty for same-sex sexual acts and abolishing some of the more extreme provisions of Shariah, such as flogging. However, the decriminalization of homosexuality has not been fully achieved, and the law still mandates prison sentences for those convicted of sodomy or indecency.

Anti-LGBTIQ stigma in Sudan remains deeply entrenched. Sexual and gender minorities face significant discrimination, violence, and harassment, perpetrated by both authorities and community members. Many individuals of queer experience in Sudan live in fear of being “outed,” which could lead to violence, imprisonment, or expulsion from their communities.

LGBTIQ organizations in Sudan are unable to register due to the restrictive legal environment. There have been no publicly recognized LGBTIQ groups within the country, and those advocating for the human rights of sexual and gender minorities risk arrest and harassment. Although LGBTIQ activists are forced to work in secrecy, there has been a growing movement within Sudan and the broader region to challenge these discriminatory laws. This movement includes lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ) women who are collaborating with feminist movements to challenge patriarchal and heteronormative ideologies. Many activists and people of queer experience continue to call for greater protection of their rights, despite the risks involved.