CIVICUS discusses the role of civil society in responding to the conflict in Sudan with Hala Al-Karib, Regional Director of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA). Founded in 1995 by a coalition of women’s rights activists, SIHA has grown into a regional network of civil society organisations working to promote democracy, women’s rights and gender equality.
The international community is paying little attention to Sudan’s civil war. After over a year of conflict, the Darfur region is experiencing a humanitarian crisis, with thousands killed, millions displaced and a looming hunger emergency. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, which has perpetrated countless human rights atrocities, and western countries such as the UK are choosing to prioritise diplomatic relations with the UAE over the need to resolve the crisis.
How are foreign powers helping to perpetuate the conflict in Sudan?
We are living in the aftermath of Omar al-Bashir’s 30-year autocratic regime, which collapsed in 2019 amid a profound economic and security crisis, particularly in regions such as Darfur and the Nuba Mountains. The RSF, the paramilitary force that al-Bashir formed to quell grievances and uprisings of marginalised communities, continued repressing protests that demanded civilian rule after al-Bashir’s ousting, leading to the tragic events of 3 June 2019, in which over 200 people were killed and many women and girls were subjected to sexual violence.
The RSF then evolved into a formidable militia backed by the UAE, which has obvious neocolonial ambitions and seeks to exploit Sudanese resources.
This complicated efforts to establish stable governance, culminating in a military coup in October 2021. Since then, competition between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF has intensified, exacerbated by external support from the UAE and possibly Saudi Arabia.
How is Sudanese civil society responding to the conflict?
Civil society was at the forefront of the struggle for democracy and human rights throughout the al-Bashir regime, providing crucial support, raising international awareness and standing up to repression. It’s no different during the current conflict.
But it’s an extremely difficult time for Sudanese civil society. Under Al-Bashir, broad-based democracy and human rights organisations invested heavily in supporting political parties that opposed the autocratic regime, only to find that many political parties were more interested in their own agendas than promoting genuine democracy. This became clear when civil society advocated for mechanisms such as legislative councils to give legitimacy to the transitional government and faced opposition from political parties aligned with the RSF and external powers such as the UAE.
The resulting divisions have strained civil society’s ability to advocate effectively. Even as it grapples with the brutal reality of violence and atrocities committed against civilians, often by the RSF, civil society remains steadfast in its commitment to peace, justice and democracy.
A particularly important role is played by women, who have been disproportionately targeted during the conflict. Although their voices have been marginalised and suppressed, women’s organisations are playing a crucial role on the ground. They are speaking out about the urgent need to end the war, highlighting its devastating human and socio-economic costs.
Women leaders are advocating for justice, stressing that there can be no lasting peace without accountability. They are courageously exposing the RSF’s brutal tactics, including systematic sexual violence. Reports indicate that most sexual violence and gang rapes are perpetrated by RSF soldiers, underlining the deliberate and strategic use of such atrocities to terrorise communities, displace people and seize land.
Women activists are using their experiences to advocate for peace, democracy and the fundamental rights of all Sudanese people.
How can the international community support Sudanese civil society?
The international community’s response to the atrocities in Sudan has been painfully slow and largely ineffective. There is an urgent need for real and decisive action. African countries and influential nations such as China and Russia, as well as emerging powers like Brazil, should use their diplomatic leverage to press for peace and justice in Sudan. Economic sanctions should be imposed on entities fuelling the conflict, particularly the UAE.
Global institutions, including the United Nations Security Council, must step up and hold accountable those responsible for the atrocities. The International Criminal Court should immediately prosecute RSF leaders and their allies implicated in genocide and war crimes.
Regional bodies such as the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union must play a more active role, particularly in controlling the flow of mercenaries from the Sahel to Sudan.
Finally, the international community must stand in solidarity with Sudanese civil society, amplifying its voices and supporting its efforts to achieve lasting peace, justice and democracy. This is not just about Sudan; it’s a global call to uphold human rights and prevent unchecked exploitation and violence in vulnerable regions.
Civic space in Sudan is rated ‘repressed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor.
Get in touch with SIHA through its website or Instagram page, and follow @Sihanet and @Halayalkarib on Twitter.
