Sudan

feminism, Peace, Sudan, Violence, War

Sudan is facing one of the world’s most devastating yet underreported humanitarian crises. Since the outbreak of war in April 2023, millions of people have been displaced, infrastructure destroyed, and lives of the population shattered amid a climate of international neglect and inadequate media attention. This silence is not new. Sudan’s complex histories of revolution, resistance, and repression have long been marginalized in global discourse, often overshadowed by reductive narratives or geopolitical disinterest. Despite this, Sudanese scholars, activists, and communities continue to produce powerful analyses of conflict and approaches to peace that illuminate the country’s struggles and aspirations. This intervention page centers Sudanese voices, inviting deeper engagement with the often overlooked intellectual and political labour of Sudanese thinkers, as well as those in solidarity with them.

[In dialogue] with Bana Group: Insights into the Sudan War and feminist Peacebuilding

Bana Group - for Peace and Development

Bana Group for Peace and Development is a feminist voluntary non-governmental organization. The group seeks to create an environment that supports women. The group seeks to rebuild and develop communities and revive peace values within them and link the war affected societies in Sudan with each other.

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Timestamps questions:

00:04 1) Could you give us some background information on the Sudan War?

01:10 2) What is the international involvement in the war?

03:24 3) What else needs to be considered when discussing the end of the war?

05:30 4) Why is there so little coverage of the Sudan War in the international media?

07:02 5) Can you explain what peace means to the Bana Group and what steps need to be taken to build peace?

08:45 6) What does being a feminist organisation mean to you? How does feminism inform your work at Bana?

10:10 7) How does the Bana Group practice diversity?

Reading List: Sudan’s Past and Present.

This curated reading list seeks to centre their voices alongside critical academic and policy contributions, offering an interdisciplinary lens into Sudan’s past and present: from the legacies of colonial rule and the Darfur genocide to the 2019 revolution, the current war, and the broader dynamics of militarism, gender, displacement, and regional politics.

This reading list was compiled by Dina Wahba and Millicent Hughes.

Dina Wahba

Dr. Dina Wahba is a senior researcher at the Arnold Bergstrassser Institute. She is a political scientist working at the intersection of gender, affect, and politics in the Middle East and Europe. Her work focuses on militarized masculinities, environmental activism, and the affective dimensions of state power and resistance.

She holds a PhD from Freie Universität Berlin and has taught widely on gender, media, and international politics.

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Millicent Hughes

Millicent Hughes was an intern at the Arnold Bergstraesser Institute. She is studying a BA in Sociology at the Potsdam University and is interested in Migration, Gender and Queer Studies and the intersection of these topics with religion and race all around the world.

Available as PDF:

Historical Context

Alneel, Muzan. 2024. “Sudan: revolution, war and imperialism.” International Socialism. https://isj.org.uk/sudan-revolution-war-and-imperialism/.

Chun Leung, Mohd Nor. 2021. “Omar Al-Bashir: his Governance Crisis and the Outbreak of Revolution in Sudan.” Geopolitics Quarterly (17): 51-70.

Hagan, J. and Rymond-Richmond, W. 2008. “Darfur and the crime of genocide.” https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511804748.

Hassan, S.M., Ray, C.E. and Fund, P.C. 2009. “Darfur and the crisis of governance in Sudan : a critical reader.” Cornell University Press eBooks, p. 528. http://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BB00112672.

Komey, G.K. 2010. “Land, governance, conflict and the Nuba of Sudan, Boydell and Brewer eBooks.” https://doi.org/10.1515/9781846159237.

Raftopoulos, Alexander. 2006. “Peace in the balance : the crisis in the Sudan.” African Minds.

Democratic transition

Ali, H., Ben Hammou, S., & Powell, J. M. 2022. “Between Coups and Election: Constitutional Engineering and Military Entrenchment in Sudan.” Africa Spectrum, 57(3): 327-339. https://doi.org/10.1177/00020397221136581.

Daniel, Peter and Hamid, Eltigani Abdelgadir. 2022. “The Sudanese Revolution and the Horizons of Democratisation – الثورة السودانية وآفاق االنتقال الديمقراطي.” AlMuntaqa, vol. 5, no. 2: 85–107. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/48698964.

Fiseha, A.. 2024. “Devolution and Transition in Sudan.” In Federalism, Devolution and Cleavages in Africa. Federalism and Internal Conflicts, Palgrave Macmillan, Cham: 291-320. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-50426-6_5.

Manfredi Firmian, F., Mirghani, O. 2022 “Can Sudan’s Democratic Transition Be Salvaged?” Middle East Policy (29): 134–149. https://doi.org/10.1111/mepo.12622.

Revolution, War and Conflict in Sudan

Al-Nagar, S., Tønnessen, L. 2021. “Sudanese Women’s Demands for Freedom, Peace, and Justice in the 2019 Revolution.” In Women and Peacebuilding in Africa. Boydell & Brewer: 103-128.

Awad, R. 2022. “The power of non-violence: Silmiya & the Sudanese Revolution.” Conflict, Security & Development, 22(1): 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/14678802.2022.2034368.

Bach, J.-N. 2022. “Sudan.” In Routledge eBooks: 377–389. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429426957-36.

Bassil, N., & Zhang, J. 2021. “The post-Bashir era in Sudan: tragedy or remedy?” Australian Journal of International Affairs, 75(3): 252–259.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10357718.2021.1882385.

Berridge, W.J. 2020. “Briefing: The Uprising in Sudan” African Affairs, Volume 119, Issue 474: 164–176. https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/adz015.

Berridge, W., De Waal, A, Lynch, J. & Makawi, R. 2022. “Sudan’s Unfinished Democracy. The Promise and Betrayal of a People’s Revolution.” London: Hurst, 280. ISBN: 9781787385351.

Bishai, L.S. 2023. “Resistance is life: how Sudan’s resistance committees perform democratic power.” The Journal of North African Studies, 28(6): 1473–1491. https://doi.org/10.1080/13629387.2023.2207228.

D’Agoôt, M. 2025. “Beyond state capture: the case of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan.” Small Wars & Insurgencies, 36(4): 698–726. https://doi.org/10.1080/09592318.2025.2464435.

Deshayes, C. 2024. “From Revolution to War In Sudan: Political Fragmentation, Competition for Control of the State, And an Expansion of the Conflict.” Politique africaine, No 173(1): 69-92. https://doi.org/10.3917/polaf.173.0069.

Elsheikh, Elsadig. 2019. “Sudan after Revolt: Reimagining Society, Surviving Vengeance.” Critical Times 2 (3): 466–478. doi: https://doi.org/10.1215/26410478-7862560.

Ezeldeen, M. 2022. “Sudanese women activism: Challenges, impact and prospects.” Ahfad Journal, 39(2): 23–38. https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=be8b4e2e-ccca-344d-
8a87-df9232712998.

Ghebremeskel, A. 2023. “Conflict and mediation in Sudan: The prospect of peace.” Global Change, Peace & Security, 35(2): 97–110. https://doi.org/10.1080/14781158.2024.2390456.

Gunawan, Y. et al. 2024. “International Law in the Sudanese War 2023: An Overview of the conflict and law enforcement.” Jurnal Suara Hukum, 6(1): 108–124. https://doi.org/10.26740/jsh.v6n1.p108-124.

Hassan, Y. n.d. “The Evolution of the Sudanese Authoritarian State: The December Uprising and the Unravelling of a ‘Persistent’ Autocracy.” In New Authoritarian Practices in the Middle East and North Africa. Edinburgh University Press: 252-275.

Khalaf, H.S. and Muhammad, K.A. 2024. “The war in Sudan after 2023 and its future prospects.” International and political journal. https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/371.

Konozy, E.H.E. 2023. “Sudan’s devastating war: unravelling its multifaceted impact.” Medicine, Conflict and Survival, 40(1): 53–57. https://doi.org/10.1080/13623699.2023.2299736.

Kostelyanets, S. 2022. “Sudan’s December Revolution and the Demise of the Al Bashir Regime.” In New Wave of Revolutions in the MENA Region.Perspectives on Development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15135-4_2.

Makkawi, B. and Gaily, M. 2025. “Rebuilding trust and social cohesion in Post-War Sudan: Opportunities and challenges.” Algerian Review of Security and Development, 14(n° 01): 213–226.

Makonye, F. 2023. “Political Reflections on the Sudanese Civil War 2023: A Qualitative Study.” African Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies 12(3): 71-82. DOI:10.31920/2634-3665/2023/v12n3a4.

Malik, S. I. 2022. “Sudan’s December revolution of 2018: the ecology of Youth Connective and Collective Activism.” Information, Communication & Society, 25(10): 1495–1510. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2022.2072754.

Medani, K.M. 2024. “The Struggle for Sudan: A Primer.” Middle East Report: 1. https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=99029a7f-358a-3e91-9456-1113c75d80a1.

Nugdalla, S.O. 2020. “The Revolution Continues: Sudanese Women’s Activism.” In Okech, A. (eds) Gender, Protests and Political Change in Africa. Gender, Development and Social Change. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham: 107-130. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46343-4_6.

Nur, B. M. 2023. “Religion, Politics, and Society: The Role of Political Islam in the Sudanese Revolution of December 2018 and Its Aftermath.” Modern Africa: Politics, History and Society, 11(1): 11–44. https://doi.org/10.26806/modafr.v11i1.390.

Verhoeven H. 2023. “Surviving revolution and democratisation: the Sudan armed forces, state fragility and security competition.” The Journal of Modern African Studies, 61(3): 413-437. doi:10.1017/S0022278X23000174.

Wessels, J. 2024. “The Role of the Sudanese Professionals Association in the Revolution of 2019 Towards Development and Social Change.” In Strategic Communication Management for Development and Social Change: 143-159. DOI:10.1007/978-3-031-41401-5_8.

Gender Based Violence

Al-Nagar S., Tønnessen L. 2024. “Women, Revolution, and Backlash: Igniting Feminist Mobilization in Sudan.” Politics & Gender. 20(2): 495-500. doi:10.1017/S1743923X22000708.

Bellizzi, Saverio et al. 2023. “Sexual Violence Against Young and Adolescent Girls: The Case of the 2023 Sudan Crisis.” Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Volume 36, Issue 6: 569 – 570.

Eltayeb, S. and Badri, A. 2024. “Exposure to violence and psychosocial trauma among Sudanese survivors.” Journal of Aggression Conflict and Peace Research. https://doi.org/10.1108/jacpr-07-2024-0926.

Jok, J.M. 2006. “Violence and Resilience: Women, war and the realities of everyday life in Sudan.” The Ahfad Journal: Women and Change; Omdurman Volume 23, Iss. 2: 58-80. https://www.proquest.com/openview/44914c14dc3f20011f2716ce374fab3f/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=5287.

Jones, K., Moffatt, J. & Sidebotham, E. 2016. “Sexual violence in conflict: a global epidemic.” The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, 18(4): 247–250. https://doi.org/10.1111/tog.12314.

Nihar, S. 2024. “Sexual violence in Sudan: From denial to recognition.” https://open.cmi.no/cmi-xmlui/handle/11250/3119479.

Poplawski, A. 2024. “Escalating Conflict-Related sexual and gender violence in the ongoing Sudan conflict.” https://larc.cardozo.yu.edu/ciclr-online/111/.

Regional Dynamics

Donelli, F., & Pericoli, A. 2024. “Foreign Aid, Identities and Interests: Qatar and the UAE in Sudan.” The International Spectator: 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/03932729.2024.2416892.

Elamin, N. 2025. “Landscape Testimonies: Gulf Capital, ‘Deficient Deserts,’ and Property-Making in Central Sudan.” PoLAR, 48: e70002. https://doi.org/10.1111/plar.70002.

Liyew, E. B. 2025. “Shattering impact of the Sudan conflict on regional stability.” African Identities: 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/14725843.2025.2473989.

Mohamed, A. 2025. “Qatari peace mediation and humanitarian aid in Sudan: Lessons from the war in Darfur 2003–2022.” Journal of Peacebuilding & Development. https://doi.org/10.1177/15423166241312874.

Verjee, A. 2021. “Political transitions in Sudan and Ethiopia: an early comparative analysis.” Global Change, Peace & Security, 33(3): 279–296. https://doi.org/10.1080/14781158.2021.1961703.

Migration, Displacement and the role of Sudanese Diaspora

Ajak, T. 2024. “Sudan Dossier: Young refugees in Sudan between the hammer and anvil of the two generals.” Migration Control. https://migration-control.info/en/blog/young-refugees-in-sudan-between-the-hammer-and-anvil-of-the-two-generals/.

Alamin, A., Tlili, A. and Wu, G. 2025. “The challenges and solutions of maintaining education for nomadic students in Sudan: Insights from the literature and experts.” Review of Education, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.70073.

Bassi, M., Brücker, P., & Franck, A. 2022. “Supporting a revolution from afar: The construction of unity between generations of Sudanese exiles in France.” Mediterranean Politics, 29(2): 210–234. https://doi.org/10.1080/13629395.2022.2132363.

Hassouri, P. 2023. “At any Cost—The War in Sudan and Europe’s flawed migration Policies.” Middle East Research and Information Project. https://merip.org/2023/07/at-any-cost-the-war-in-sudan-and-europes-flawed-migration-policies/.

Heltne, U. et al. 2025. “Local adults’ perceptions of adverse experiences and psychosocial consequences among refugee children in Sudan and South Sudan.” Children and Youth Services Review, 175. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190740925002518.

Kirby, Dianne. 2024. “The Revolution is Not Over: Sudanese Female Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Belfast,” The Journal of Social Encounters, Vol. 8, Iss. 2: 183-201. https://doi.org/10.69755/2995-2212.1285.

Sapre, A.A. and Singh, S. 2024. “Between war and peace: Exploring the role of refugee law in the context of Sudan political conflict.” International Migration, 62(4): 41–56. https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.13278.

Schlee, G. 2014. “Regional political history and the production of diasporas.” In Diasporas, development and Peacemaking in the Horn of Africa. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781350219618.ch-002.

Policy papers

Deng, F. et al. 2012. “Der Sudan nach der Teilung, Schriften zur Demokratie.” Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. https://www.boell.de/de/internationalepolitik/publikationen-sudan-nach-der-teilung-schriftenreihe-demokratie-14737.html.

De Waal, A. et al. 2010. “Sudan – Kein leichter Weg in die Zukunft, Schriften zur Demokratie.” Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. https://www.boell.de/de/navigation/demokratiefoerderung-sudan-wahlen-2010-reader-8968.html.

Kurtz, Gerrit. 2024. “Power relations in Sudan after the fall of Bashir: From revolution to war.” SWP Research Paper. Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), German Institute for International and Security Affairs. https://www.swp-berlin.org/10.18449/2024RP05/.

Multimedia

Bard College Berlin. 2022. “Sara Abbas: The Problem with Icons. Feminist Contestations in Sudan’s Ongoing Revolution.” [Video file]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF9buw7MZGg.

Bergen Global CMI/UiB. 2021. “Youth mobilization and activism during Sudan’s transition.” [Video file]. https://www.youtube.com/live/E9-l5HVyUE4.

Khalidsidahmed. 2024a. “Interview: a revolutionary perspective on the war in Sudan.” [Audio files]. https://menasolidaritynetwork.com/2024/07/14/interview-a-revolutionary-perspective-on-the-war-in-sudan/.

Postcolonial Hierarchies in Peace & Conflict. 2025. “[In dialogue] with Bana Group: Insights into the Sudan War and feminist Peacebuilding.” [Video file]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKXGhxktOPE.

Sudan War Monitor. n.d. “Sudan War Monitor.” https://sudanwarmonitor.com/.

UN News. n.d. “In Focus: Sudan Conflict.” https://news.un.org/en/focus/sudan-conflict.

How to cite this entry:

Ketzmerick-Calandrino 2024: “Security. Speaking with Fanon?”. Virtual Encyclopaedia – Rewriting Peace and Conflict. 08.10.2024. https://rewritingpeaceandconflict.net/security-speaking-with-fanon/.