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Statement: CSOs Condemn the Escalating Violence in Sudan as the War reaches Wad Madani and Al Gezira State

(Arabic below)

December 23, 2023 

The undersigned civil society organisations (CSOs) vehemently condemns the recent expansion of the conflict in Sudan, marked by the devastating escalation in Madani, Gezira State. 

This latest development is a significant and alarming extension of the brutal war that has plagued the country since April 15. The conflict was initiated with clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who took over Greater Khartoum, most of the Darfur region, and now Wad Madani City 180 kilometres South of Khartoum and across Gezira State, causing unfathomable suffering. 

The RSF’s reign of terror in Darfur and Greater Khartoum, characterized by looting, sexual violence, killings, and forced disappearances, has now extended to Wad Madani. The SAF has exacerbated the violence, indiscriminately bombarding urban areas in Khartoum and South Darfur, contributing to the mounting civilian death toll. Further, the SAF has been involved in the ethnic profiling, execution, and detention of Sudanese citizens – women and men – claiming that these civilians are actually RSF collaborators based on their ethnic and tribal or political backgrounds. This approach is not new to the SAF; it was often used in the past and has largely contributed to the further disintegration of the country’s social fabric and accumulating grievances. 

The situation in Darfur and Khartoum has served as a grim precursor to the crisis in Wad Madani and Gezira State. On June 14, the RSF took over El Geneina City of West Darfur and killed the state governor Khamis Abakar. The battle in El Geneina left behind hundreds of civilians dead. The RSF and their allied Arab1 militias have specifically targeted the Masalit tribe inhabitants of the region. The fighting has forced more than 670,000 people to flee their homes. Between end of April and June 14 the RSF and their allied Arab militias have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity against the civilians in and around the town, including mass killings, sexual violence against women and girls, and burning and looting of homes and IDP camps and villages.

 On December 18, the RSF entered Wad Mandani City, the hub of humanitarian aid to Sudan since the war started and the capital of Gezira State. According to UNOCHA, an estimated 5.9 million people live in Gezira State. This once-safe haven for over one million people, including more than 350,000 displaced persons from Khartoum, Kordofan, and Darfur, is now a battleground. Reports estimate that over 500,000 people have fled Al Gezira State and Wad Madani City since the RSF entered the state on December 18. People are seeking refuge from the relentless violence of the RSF.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has significantly disrupted the nation’s infrastructure and basic services including education and health service. Over 6.5 million children in Sudan have been blocked from accessing education since the war started, bringing the total number of Sudanese school-age children who are out of school to 19 million. Rampant looting by the RSF has critically undermined the banking sector’s stability and the functionality of small-scale industries, factories, and local businesses. 

Central to the RSF’s strategy is the practice of Ghanima ( الْغَنيمَة), which means “spoils of war.” This practice, which involves seizing assets such as land, wealth, property, and even people, particularly women and girls, is a tactic employed by various militant groups to incentivize their forces. Ghanima is a strategy used by RSF that not only involves taking control of resources but often leads to their destruction, further exacerbating the war’s impact on the country’s economic and social fabric.

Since the RSF entered Gezira State, they resumed their looting activities and targeting of civilians and their livelihoods. Many accounts specifically spoke about the RSF targeting people of Darfuri origins in Gezira State, who historically have larger communities from Darfur residing in various Gezira villages. We have received reports from local residents that RSF soldiers are saying, ‘We are looking for Zurga2 men.’

Patterns of sexual violence and enforced disappearances are escalating throughout the State, presenting grave human rights concerns. Although quantifying the full extent of these atrocities since December 18 remains challenging, to date, women’s rights organizations have documented seven cases of sexual violence in Gezira state between December 18 and December 21. This alarming figure over just four days likely represents only a fraction of the actual cases, as our previous experience in Khartoum, Darfur, and other regions suggests a much wider prevalence. 

Nahla Mohamed Osman, a young woman who was three months pregnant with her first child, was shot dead by the RSF while she was resisting rape inside her home in Madani Al Matar Neighbourhood. Tragically, many instances of sexual violence are often linked to the brutal executions of family members who attempt to protect their daughters, sisters, or wives. Based on our monitoring of the RSF’s violent behaviour, sexual violence during the initial stages of the invasion tends to occur within the survivors’ homes and often involves gang rape. 

Our analyses indicates that this pattern is a deliberate strategy to displace residents from their homes forcibly. The RSF did this in Khartoum at the beginning of the conflict in April 2023, and they have been doing this in rural Darfur for over 20 years. Alongside this, the frequency of enforced disappearances is rapidly increasing. Within just two days following the onset of attacks in Gezira state, ten people so far have gone missing, including children and elderly individuals. 

The crisis has also impacted medical professionals in the region; a university professor at Gezira University was shot dead inside his home by RSF soldiers on Friday. Two doctors and two female nurses were reportedly kidnapped from Gezira. Additionally, a doctor and nurse were tragically killed at Rufaa Hospital in Gezira state, further highlighting the severity of this perilous situation. 

Gezira state’s capital city, Wad Madani, is home to numerous vulnerable groups, including children undergoing cancer treatment, over 135 infants in an orphanage, at least 50 visually impaired individuals, an elderly home, and other facilities housing residents with disabilities. These groups are at severe risk as the RSF indiscriminately attacks and loots essential facilities. Consequently, people fleeing on foot from Gezira state seek safer paths away from RSF checkpoints and main roads to avoid further violence. This mass exodus includes the residents of Sennar and Sinja in Northern Blue Nile state, who also fear the RSF invasion of their towns and villages. Amidst this turmoil, there may be over one million Sudanese people currently displaced, moving aimlessly in search of safety. 

In light of these developments, the undersigned civil society organisations urgently call upon the UN and international Actors friends of Sudan and Sudan neighbours within the region and the  IGAD member states to: 

  1. Immediately implement a civilian protection framework which is gender-responsive and ensures unhindered access to community-led humanitarian aid for the people in Sudan who have been impacted by this mass campaign of atrocities and violence. This framework should have actionable consequences if violated.  
  2. Immediately establish a cessation of hostility, which is monitored closely and overseen by ground forces and the establishment of civilian safe zones. This should be done while facilitating a broad-based and inclusive civilian-led conflict transformation process in which women play a leading role.  
  3. Establish an international criminal tribunal (similar to the tribunal established to address the crimes of genocide in Rwanda) to address the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Sudan conflict. This tribunal is critical for building accountability mechanisms for future political processes and avoiding recycling violence. 
  4. Exert pressure on the RSF and their allies to stop the killing and the destruction of Sudan’s infrastructure. The SAF must be pressured to come to the table with a viable and serious political process that will enable civilians’ and women’s participation and guarantee that both RSF and SAF are not part of any ruling structures in Sudan. 
  5. Enhance support for adequate humanitarian aid for the civilians affected by the conflict by providing resources and programs to support communities of IDPs’ livelihoods and social well-being, along with mental health and psychosocial support services. 
  6. Implement the fact-finding mission by the UN Human Rights Council. This mission must be consolidated and supported by the formation of a Sudan fact-finding mission by the Security Council to examine the breaches and violations of the Security Council resolutions in Darfur and Sudan. Specifically to investigate the massive sexual violence crimes committed across the country. 
  7. Stop illicit financial streams and political economies that enrich critical perpetrators of violence. 

SIHA Network stands in solidarity with the people of Sudan, particularly those in Wad Madani and across Gezira State, who are enduring the horrors of this expanded conflict. We implore the international community to take swift and decisive action to bring an end to this escalating humanitarian crisis.

You can append your signature by clicking the link here or the button at the end of the statement below or by scanning the QR code.  

Signatories:

  1. Adeela for Culture and Art
  2. All Women Together Network
  3. Bahariat  Women’s Association  -South Darfur  
  4. Beja Voice Feminist Organization
  5. Darfur Activists Platform
  6. Darfur Bar Association
  7. Development Hub – Kampala
  8. Dr. Asma-Bthaina Ahmed Elnaiem
  9. Fikra for Studies and Development
  10. Gender Equality Network Initiative – Kassala
  11. Justice First Group 
  12. Kassala Feminist Platform
  13. Khalid Omer Karoum – Sudan Veterinary Society abroad 
  14. Marginalized Rights Defenders Alliance 
  15. Mothers of Sudan 
  16. National Society for Peace and Development 
  17. No to Women Oppression Initiative
  18. Noon Studies and Research and Documentation Center 
  19. Peace Collectives – Kassala 
  20. Rural Extension Education and Development Organization 
  21. Sas Legal Center for Training 
  22. Self Help Association 
  23. Sennar Women Leaders’ Society
  24. Sudan Institute for Democracy 
  25. Sudanese women build sustainable peace – Kassala 
  26. Sudanese Women for Peace – Kassala 
  27. Sudanese Women Union
  28. Taadod Women’s Cooperative Society 
  29. The Strategic Initiative for women in the Horn of Africa -SIHA 
  30. Women Against War 
  31. Women Lawyers without Borders 
  32. Zahrat Almustgbal Association
  33. تجمع أساتذة الجامعات السودانية 

1 It is crucial to understand that ‘Arab’ and ‘African’ identities are fluid and constantly being reconstructed and shifted over the incredibly long history of the area that is today recognized as Sudan. These identities are influenced by much more than ethnicity, as tribal affiliation, political history, colourism, and power struggles have played a large role in shaping these identities over time. At present, the ‘Arab’ identity is privileged identity in relation to the ‘African’ identity. However, the fluidity of these identities means that people find themselves in different places on the spectrum of privilege and oppression in different contexts and at different moments in history. Despite the history of Darfur as an ancient Islamic Kingdom, the Fur people, as well as the Masalit, and other groups found in the Darfur region, are classified as ‘African’ by the empowered majority (which includes the RSF) – who identify themselves as part of the ‘Arabized’ identity.

2 Zurga is a term that has been used predominantly by the RSF in Darfur to refer to Darfuri people who are ‘othered’ from the ‘Arab’ identity described above. The term ‘Zurga’ is thus used to described a group that is marginalized based on this understanding of their identity as ‘black’ and ‘African’ which are cast to be distinct from ‘Arab.’ 

بيان صحفي صادر عن عدد من مجموعات المجتمع المدني يدين تصاعد العنف في السودان ووصول الحرب إلى ود مدني وولاية الجزيرة

32 ديسمبر 2023

ندين بشدة نحن الموقعون/ات أدناه توسع نطاق حملة الفظاعات المُدَمِّرة والحرب القبيحة التي امتدت في الآونة الأخيرة إلى مدينة ود مدني وولاية الجزيرة.

وتعتبر التطورات الأخيرة امتدادًا خطيرًا للحرب الوحشية التي اندلعت في البلاد منذ 15 أبريل، حيث بدأت باستيلاء قوات الدعم السريع على معظم أحياء ومرافق العاصمة الخرطوم وولايات دارفور، وامتدت رقعة الحرب الآن إلى مدينة ود مدني التي تبعد 180 كيلومتراً جنوب الخرطوم واجتاحت عموم ولاية الجزيرة، مما تسبب في معاناة قاسية للمواطنين.

وقد اتسع أمد الترهيب الذي ظلّت تمارسه مليشيات الدعم السريع في ولايات دارفور والخرطوم والذي اتسم بالقتل والنهب والعنف الجنسي والاختفاء القسري، ليطال هذا الترهيب الآن ود مدني حاضرة ولاية الجزيرة.

وقد ساهمت القوات المسلحة السودانية في تفاقم حدة العنف خلال هذه الحرب الوحشية، نتيجة لما تقوم به من قصف عشوائي لمناطق وأجزاء متفرقة من ولاية الخرطوم وولاية جنوب دارفور، والذي غالبًا ما يتحمل نتائجه المدنيين، مما أدى إلى ارتفاع حصيلة القتلى وسط المدنيين العزّل والنساء والاطفال. إضافة إلى ذلك فقد مارست القوات المسلحة الاستهداف القبلي وعمدت إلى تصفية وتعذيب الأبرياء على حسب خلفياتهم القبلية مما أجج من التشظي وأضعف النسيج الاجتماعي.

وقد كانت الأوضاع في دارفور والخرطوم بمثابة مؤشر خطير لإمكانية امتداد الصراع إلى ود مدني وولاية الجزيرة. ففي 14يونيو استولت مليشيات الدعم السريع على مدينة الجنينة عاصمة ولاية غرب دارفور وقتلت والي الولاية خميس أبكر؛ وأسفرت تلك المعركة عن وقوع مئات القتلى من المدنيين/ات. وفي الفترة من نهاية أبريل إلى منتصف يونيو استهدفت مليشيات الدعم السريع ومليشيات القبائل العربية المتحالفة معها قبيلة المساليت على وجه التحديد والتي عانت من القتل والعنف الجنسي والحرق والنهب والتهجير القسري. وقد أجبر القتال أكثر من 670 ألف مواطن/ة على النزوح من منازلهم/ن. وارتكبت قوات الدعم السريع وميليشيات القبائل العربية في الولاية جرائم حرب وجرائم ضد الإنسانية ضد المدنيين/ات داخل المدينة وحولها، بما في ذلك عمليات القتل الجماعي والعنف الجنسي ضد النساء والفتيات، وحرق المنازل ونهب الممتلكات والاعتداء على مخيمات وقرى النازحين.

في 18 ديسمبر اجتاحت قوات الدعم السريع مدينة ود مدني عاصمة ولاية الجزيرة، التي كانت تمثل مركز المساعدات الإنسانية في السودان منذ بدء الحرب. وقد اعتبرت ود مدني ملاذاً آمناً لأكثر من مليون شخص، بما في ذلك أكثر من 350ألف نازح/ة قدموا إليها من الخرطوم وكردفان ودارفور، حيث تحولت الآن إلى ساحة للحرب. وتشير التقارير إلى أن أكثر من 500 ألف شخص قد نزحوا من ولاية الجزيرة ومدينة ود مدني منذ استيلاء الدعم السريع على الولاية في 18 ديسمبر. وينشد الناس الوصول إلى ملجأ آمن يحميهم من العنف المتواصل الذي ظلت تمارسه هذه المليشيات المسلحة. ووفقاً لمكتب الأمم المتحدة لتنسيق الشؤون الإنسانية، يقدر إجمالي عدد سكان ولاية الجزيرة بنحو 5.9 مليون نسمة.

وقد أدى الصراع الجاري في السودان إلى تخريب البنية التحتية وتعطيل الخدمات الأساسية في البلاد بشكل كبير، بما في ذلك التعليم والخدمات الصحية. حيث تم حرمان أكثر من 19 مليون طفل/ة في السودان من الوصول إلى التعليم منذ بداية الحرب. وقد أدت أعمال النهب التي أدى يضطلع بها الدعم السريع إلى تقويض استقرار القطاع المصرفي ونشاط الصناعات الصغيرة والأعمال التجارية بشكل خطير.

ومن الممارسات الأساسية في ثقافة الدعم السريع القتالية هو استخدام مفهوم “الغنيمة” الذي يعني “غنائم الحرب”، وينطوي هذا المفهوم على جميع الأصول التي يتم الاستيلاء عليها أثناء الحرب مثل الأراضي والأموال والممتلكات، بل ويشتمل حتى على الأشخاص الذين يتم أسرهم أثناء الحرب، وخاصة النساء والفتيات. وهذه الممارسة تعتبر أسلوباً تكتيكياً تستخدمه مختلف الجماعات الإرهابية وجماعات الإسلام السياسي الأصولية في الإقليم لتحفيز مقاتليها. إن استراتيجية الغنائم هذه التي يستخدمها الدعم السريع لا تنطوي فقط على السيطرة على الموارد، ولكنها تؤدي في كثير من الأحيان إلى تدميرها، مما يزيد من تفاقم أضرار الحرب على النسيج الاقتصادي والاجتماعي للبلاد.

ومنذ استيلاء المليشيا على ولاية الجزيرة، استأنفت أنشطتها في النهب واستهداف المدنيين/ات ومصادر دخلهم/ن. وتتصاعد أنماط العنف الجنسي وحالات الاختفاء القسري في جميع أنحاء الولاية، مما يثير قلقاً بالغاً لدى المدافعات والمدافعين عن حقوق الإنسان. وعلى الرغم من أن تحديد العدد الكلي لضحايا هذه الفظائع منذ 18 ديسمبر لا يزال يمثل تحديًا، فقد وثقت المنظمات النسوية ومجموعات الناشطين حتى الآن 7 حالات عنف جنسي من مواقع مختلفة في الولاية في الفترة بين 18و21 ديسمبر، ومن المرجح أن هذا الرقم المثير للقلق في 4 أيام فقط لا يمثل سوى جزءٍ ضئيل من الحالات الفعلية، حيث تشير تجاربنا السابقة في الخرطوم ودارفور والمناطق الأخرى إلى انتشار أوسع بكثير.

في يوم الخميس 21 ديسمبر اغتالت مليشيات الدعم السريع الشابة نهلة محمد عثمان حديثة الزواج وهي حبلى في شهرها الثالث من سكان حي المطار في منزلها إثر مقاومتها لمحاولة الاغتصاب من قبل المليشيات.

ومن المؤسف أن العديد من حالات العنف الجنسي غالباً ما ترتبط بعمليات قتل وحشية للضحايا أو أفراد الأسرة الذين يحاولن/يحاولون حماية بناتهم/ن أو أخواتهم/ن أو زوجاتهم/ن. واستناداً إلى رصدنا ومتابعتنا للسلوك العنيف لقوات الدعم السريع، يميل العنف الجنسي خلال المراحل الأولى من الغزو إلى الحدوث داخل منازل الضحايا وغالبًا ما يتضمن اغتصابًا جماعيًا.

ووفقاً لتحليلاتنا فإنَّ هذا النمط يمثل استراتيجية متعمدة لتهجير السكان من منازلهم/ن قسراً، مثل ما حدث في الخرطوم مع بداية الصراع في أبريل 2023 وما ظل يحدث في مناطق دارفور على يد قوات الدعم السريع والميليشيات المتحالفة معها طوال أكثر من 20 سنة. وإلى جانب ذلك، فإن وتيرة حالات الاختفاء القسري تتزايد بشكل متسارع. وفي غضون يومين فقط منذ بدء الهجمات في ولاية الجزيرة، اختفى 10 أشخاص حتى الآن، بينهم/ن أطفال وكبار السن.

كما أثرت الأزمة على العاملين/ات والمهنيين والمهنيات. حيث قتل أستاذ الاقتصاد في جامعة الجزيرة د. عبد المتعال فضل في منزلة يوم الخميس من قبل أفراد الدعم السريع، وتفيد التقارير بأن طبيبين وممرضتين تعرضا للاختطاف في ولاية الجزيرة. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، تم قتل طبيب وممرضة بشكل مأساوي في مستشفى رفاعة بولاية الجزيرة، مما يسلط الضوء على تفاقم وخطورة الوضع. وقد وردت العديد من التقارير حول استهداف مليشيات الدعم السريع بشكل محدد لأهل دارفور المستوطنين في مدائن وقرى الجزيرة.

وتعد مدينة ود مدني، عاصمة ولاية الجزيرة، موطنًا للعديد من الفئات الضعيفة، بما في ذلك الأطفال الذين يخضعون لعلاج السرطان، وأكثر من 135 رضيعًا في دار للأيتام، وما لا يقل عن 50 شخصًا من ذوات/ذوي الإعاقة البصرية، ودار المسنين، والأشخاص ذوات/ذوات الإعاقة. وتتعرض هذه المجموعات لخطر شديد إثر شن الدعم السريع لهجمات عشوائية ونهبهم للمرافق الأساسية. ونتيجة لذلك، فإنَّ الأشخاص الذين تمكنوا من الفرار سيرًا على الأقدام من ولاية الجزيرة يبحثون عن طرق أكثر أمانًا بعيدًا عن نقاط التفتيش التابعة لقوات الدعم السريع وبعيداً عن الطرق الرئيسية لتجنب المزيد من العنف. ويشمل هذا النزوح الجماعي سكان سنار وسنجة النازحين إلى ولاية النيل الأزرق، خوفًا من اجتياح قوات الدعم السريع لمدنهم وقراهم. وفي خضم هذه الاضطرابات، ينزح حالياً أكثر من مليون سوداني، ويتحركون بلا هدف بحثاً عن الأمان.

وبالنظر إلى هذه التطورات، فإننا نحن الموقعون أدناه من المجتمع المدني ندعو بشكل عاجل الأمم المتحدة والجهات الدولية الفاعلة وأصدقاء السودان وجيرانه في المنطقة والدول الأعضاء في منظمة الإيقاد للقيام بما يلي:

    1. التنفيذ الفوري لإطارٍ فاعل لحماية المدنيين يراعي النوع الاجتماعي ويضمن الوصول دون عوائق للمساعدات الإنسانية بمشاركة المجتمعات المحلية، والنازحين المتضررين من الفظائع والعنف. وينبغي أن يتضمن هذا الإطار على عقوبات قابلة للتنفيذ في حالة انتهاكه.
    2. الوقف الفوري للعدائيات وفق آليات فعالة لحماية المدنيين، كما ينبغي أن تخضع تلك الآليات للمراقبة والاشراف الدولي والإقليمي الوثيق بواسطة قوات على الأرض وإنشاء مناطق آمنة للمدنيين/ات. مع تيسير آليات لحل النزاع واسعة النطاق وشاملة بشراكة مدنية تضطلع فيها النساء بدور قيادي.
    3. إنشاء محكمة جنائية تحت إشراف الأمم المتحدة (بالإشارة إلى حالة رواندا) للنظر في جرائم الحرب والجرائم ضد الإنسانية التي ارتكبت خلال الحرب الوحشية في السودان. ولهذه المحكمة أهمية بالغة في تجنب تكرار العنف وبناء آليات المحاسبة في داخل العملية السياسية في المستقبل.
    4. ممارسة الضغط الشديد على مليشيات الدعم السريع وحلفائها لوقف القتل وتدمير البنية التحتية في السودان. ولا بد من الضغط على القوات المسلحة السودانية للجلوس على طاولة المفاوضات من خلال عملية سياسية جادة من شأنها تمكين المدنيات والمدنيين مع ضمان عدم مشاركة قوات الدعم السريع والقوات المسلحة السودانية في أي من هياكل الحكم في السودان في المستقبل.
    5. تعزيز تقديم المساعدات الإنسانية الكافية للمدنيين/ات المتضررين/ات من الصراع من خلال توفير الموارد والبرامج اللازمة لدعم النازحين/ات في توفير سبل العيش والرفاه الاجتماعي، إلى جانب تقديم خدمات الصحة العقلية والدعم النفسي والاجتماعي.
    6. تنفيذ بعثة لتقصي الحقائق بواسطة مجلس حقوق الإنسان التابع للأمم المتحدة. وتعزيز البعثة بإنشاء بعثة موازية وفق لصلاحيات مجلس الامن تنظر في الانتهاكات التي تحدث في القانون الدولي وقرارات مجلس الامن في السودان تحديدًا جرائم العنف الجنسي الواسعة النطاق.
    7. وقف التدفقات المالية غير المشروعة واقتصادات التهريب وإدخال السلاح والتهرب من قوانين مراقبة حركة الأموال والتي تدعم مرتكبي أعمال العنف في السودان.

    نتضامن ونقف نحن الموقعون أدناه مع سكان ود مدني وولاية الجزيرة، الذين يعانون من أهوال هذا الصراع المستفحل. ونواصل تضامننا مع إنسان دارفور وولايات غرب دارفور وندعو المجتمع الدولي والإقليمي بقوة إلى تدارك الكارثة في السودان وأن يتم اتخاذ إجراءات سريعة وحاسمة لوضع حد لهذه الكارثة الإنسانية وكارثة حقوق الإنسان المتصاعدة في السودان. كما ندعو قوي المجتمع المدني السودانية الي تنسيق الجهود والوقوف بحزم امام الحرب الوحشية التي تجاوزت النزاع بين الدعم السريع والجيش السوداني وامتدت إلى حملات من الفظاعات التي ترتكب ضد المدنيين وضد مدنية وروح ووجود الدولة السودانية.

    الموقعات والموقعون على البيان:

    1. عديلة للثقافة و الفنون
    2. شبكة النساء جميعا
    3. منظمة بحريات المجتمعية النسوية -جنوب دارفور
    4. منظمة صوت البجا النسوية
    5. Darfur Activists Platform
    6. هيئة محامين دارفور
    7. Development Hub – Kampala
    8. ممثل تجمع الجامعات السودانية
    9. فكرة للدراسات والتنمية
    10. مبادرة شبكة المساواة النوعية – كسلا
    11. مجموعة العدالة اولاً
    12. المنصة النسوية – كسلا
    13. تجمع الاطباء البيطريين السودانيين بالخارج
    14. كتلة المدافعين عن حقوق المهمشين
    15. أمهات السودان
    16. الجمعية القومية للسلام و التنمية
    17. لا لقهر النساء
    18. مركز نون للدراسات و البحوث و التوثيق
    19. اجسام السلام – كسلا
    20. منظمة التنمية والتدريب والارشاد الريفي (ريدو)
    21. مركز ساس الحقوقي
    22. منظمة مجموعة المساعدة الذاتية
    23. جمعية رائدات سنار
    24. معهد السودان للديمقراطية
    25. سودانيات لبناء السلام المستدام – كسلا
    26. جسم نساء سودانيات من أجل السلام – كسلا
    27. جمعية التعاضد النسوية التعاونية
    28. Sudanese Women Union
    29. المبادرة الاستراتجية لنساء القرن الافريقي -صيحة
    30. نساء ضد الحرب
    31. محاميات بلا حدود
    32. جمعية زهرات المستقبل
    33. تجمع أساتذة الجامعات السودانية

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Ayan Mohamed Djama

Legal and Social Consultant

Ayan Mohamed Djama is a Legal and Social Consultant with strong expertise in judicial, port, and associative matters, and solid experience in designing, managing, and evaluating high-impact social, legal, and educational programmes. Internationally trained in Senegal, Kenya, France, and the United States, she supports NGOs, institutions, and private sector actors while leading community initiatives focused on the training, empowerment, and leadership of young women, girls, and youth to foster more just, inclusive, and resilient societies.

Bibiana Joseph Awad

SOUTH SUDAN PROJECTS OFFICER

Bibiana Joseph Awad holds a Master’s degree in Education in Emergency from the University of Juba. She is an activist and the Projects Officer at the SIHA Network in South Sudan, where she oversees critical initiatives focused on supporting survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). Bibiana manages the One Stop Centre at Wau Teaching Hospital, a facility that provides comprehensive services to GBV survivors, including medical care, psychosocial support, and legal assistance. She works closely with local communities, healthcare providers, legal institutions, and women’s coalitions to address the urgent challenges of GBV in South Sudan.

Through the One Stop Centre, Bibiana has strengthened the capacity of service providers and protection groups while advocating for the rights of women and girls affected by violence. In her free time, she enjoys reading books, listening to music, and engaging on social media.

Jackie Bless Pinyoloya

UGANDA PROJECT OFFICER

Jackie Bless Pinyoloya is the Project Officer at SIHA Network in Uganda; where she passionately champions feminist principles and gender justice. With a solid foundation in gender issues, advocacy, and economic empowerment for women, Jackie brings a wealth of expertise, particularly in the informal sector.

Currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Gender Studies at Makerere University School of Women and Gender Studies, Jackie is committed to advancing her knowledge and understanding of gender dynamics. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Social Sciences with a major in Gender Studies from Makerere University Kampala, reflecting her dedication to exploring and addressing social inequalities.

In her role, Jackie combines her academic background with practical experience, contributing significantly to the organization’s mission of promoting gender equality and empowerment. Her dedication to feminist principles is evident in her work towards creating positive change in the lives of women in Arua and beyond.

Adla Abubker

SUDAN PROTECTION & EMERGENCY RESPONSE COORDINATOR

Adla Abubker is a women’s rights activist from Sudan with more than 15 years’ experience of working toward gender equality in Sudan. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Rural Development from Ahfad University for Women in Sudan. Her areas of expertise include working with grassroots communities, women’s economic empowerment, gender activism and negotiating with men to change inequitable attitudes.

Currently, Ms Abubker a Program Officer with SIHA in Sudan, where she oversees SIHA’s work on building women movement, and women in Islam, reforming gender-discriminatory legislation, and engaging youth on issues of gender, religion, and race. She believes that the link between religion and law is in dire need of reform, and that discriminatory interpretations of Islam are a root cause of violence against women in Sudan.

Neimat Abas

SUDAN COUNTRY COORDINATOR

Neimat Abas brings over ten years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Juba University and a master’s degree in Gender and Governance from Ahfad University for Women in Sudan, where her research focused on women’s political participation at the local level. Neimat is currently the Coordinator for the SIHA Network in Sudan.

Before joining SIHA Network, Neimat worked with the Arab Association for Constitutional Law in Tunisia, Oxfam America in Sudan, and Women for Women International in Washington, DC. She has played a key role in the development, implementation, and ongoing enhancement of high-quality women’s empowerment programs in eight conflict-affected countries.

Neimat has also been actively involved in the leadership of the Students Association and various political and civil society organizations for several years. As a result, she has developed strong skills in working with university students to organize political campaigns, raise public awareness about civil rights, and build democratic organizations and institutions.

Yousef Ahmed Abdi (Timacade)

SOMALI REGION PROGRAMME COORDINATOR

Yousef Ahmed Abdi (Timacade) is a Lawyer and Legal Analyst holding a Master’s Degree in Law and Executive Management. Over the past decade, he has consistently demonstrated dedication through his work with national and international non-governmental organizations, focusing on critical areas such as human rights, program management, and research within Somalia and Somaliland.

Currently serving as the Somali Region Programme Coordinator for the SIHA Network, Yousef embodies not only legal prowess but also a deep commitment to women’s human rights advocacy. He is also known for his prolific blogging and commentary, dedicated to raising awareness about human rights issues. His unwavering dedication to gender equality propels him into the role of advocate for marginalized communities, striving to amplify their voices and effect transformative change. Yousef specializes in championing egalitarian ideals and advancing progressive reforms in the Somali region, with a particular emphasis on achieving gender parity.

Yousef is a valued member of the editorial board of the Women in Islam journal. His numerous writings delve into the intricacies of human rights, particularly those affecting Muslim women.

Zemdena Abebe

ETHIOPIA PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Zemdena Abebe is the founder of Afri-colors, a social-enterprise startup, curating made-in-Africa products, crafted by women. As a Pan-Africanist -womanist- she refuses to be erased and amplifies the voices of women through her research, writing, multimedia -storytelling, organizing, and activism: disrupting intersecting oppressive systems. Her social justice advocacy work started in high school; Chaired Addis Ababa Girls’ Forum– which facilitated discussions amongst girls laying the foundation for legislative intervention against sexual abuse in Ethiopia. As the first women president of Addis Ababa University Students’ Union: she reaffirmed the need and organized various youth-led movements despite the hostile university context. One of the 22 young African women selected as part of the writing for social change workshop organized by AWDF and FEMRITE in Kampala, Uganda. An alumnus of the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship.

Amongst her multilayered affiliations, she sits on the advisory council of ActionAid Ethiopia. Previously, she worked with UNICEF Ethiopia and consulted many other local and international organizations such as the EU, FEMNET.HBF, FHS, TRUST AFRICA, etc. Volunteered for the African Union (African Academy of languages in Bamako, Mali: as a research and Marketing Assistant. Zemdena is a graduate of Political Science & International Relations, who often likes to dance her way to freedom. Asserting the notion that African women, girls & non-binary folks have the right to a life free of heteronormative -capitalist -anti-black -patriarchal terror based on their overlapping otherness: her work reaffirms that human progress is achieved through imagining a better world through the realization of a transnational strong justice-centered human kinship. Zemdena’s writings of resistance can be found on Pambazuka, Africa is a Country, HBF, African Feminism et al

Ramatoulie Isatou Jallow

REGIONAL ADVOCACY & RESEARCH OFFICER

Ramatoulie Isatou Jallow (L.L.M Graduate in National Security Law, Georgetown, 2023 and in Human Rights and Democratization in Africa University of Pretoria, Centre for Human Rights, 2021) is a peace practitioner and attorney from Botswana and the Gambia, specializing in human rights, democratization, national security, conflict prevention and women, peace and security. In her previous professional experiences, she worked for the African Union, the United States Institute for Peace, and the Georgetown Center for National Security. Immediately before joining SIHA Network, Ramatoulie was also the Mary Frances Berry Senior Fellow at the Center for Ethics and Rule of Law, affiliated with the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Here she led research on the military coups in the Sahel and West African region, civic education in the military and indefinite detention.

Her publications include Covid- 19 and Intrastate Armed Conflicts in Africa, Beyond the Outbreak: Creating a Sustainable Peace Culture in Botswana and Intergenerational Peacebuilding Among Women: Leveraging the Power of Collaboration, which she co-authored.

Outside of work, Ramatoulie is an avid reader, lover of poetry, culture, art and music.

Martin Maate Bwambale

REGIONAL HUMAN RESOURCE OFFICER

Martin Maate Bwambale is the Regional Human Resource Officer at SIHA Network, with over 8 years of progressive HR experience in both the private and not-for-profit sectors across the Greater Horn of Africa. As a member of the Human Resource Managers Association of Uganda, Martin is passionate about creating human capital-centric environments that foster a positive employee experience and contribute to the achievement of organizational goals. He is dedicated to helping individuals unlock their potential and become better versions of themselves by implementing sound HR practices and policies.

One of Martin’s key accomplishments includes serving as the Chairperson of the HR COVID-19 SOP Taskforce Committee, which was established by the Uganda INGO Country Directors Forum. He played a vital role in drafting standard operating procedures for workplace COVID-19 prevention, response, and control, as well as work-from-home policies, which were adopted in 2022.

Martin holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Production and Operations from Bugema University and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management at Cavendish University.

Outside of his professional life, Martin enjoys playing soccer with C Club, a corporate soccer team in Kampala, Uganda, for health, leisure, and networking. He is also passionate about singing and traveling.

REGIONAL SENIOR FINANCE OFFICER

REGIONAL SENIOR FINANCE OFFICER

Sauda Kayaga is SIHA Network’s Regional Senior Finance Officer. A trained Statistician, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University. Sauda has 2 years of experience in statistical research and analysis, 3 years in cashiering and banking, and over 5 years in project financial management. She has a strong aptitude for working with complex financial modelling and analysis and a deep understanding of financial systems and procedures. Sauda is highly passionate about her work and brings a keen attention to detail and expertise to every aspect of her role.

Justine Namuyanja

REGIONAL PROCUREMENT & COMPLIANCE OFFICER

Justine Namuyanja is the Procurement & Compliance Officer at SIHA Network, bringing over a decade of experience to the organization. Throughout her career at SIHA, she has made significant contributions to the finance, procurement, administration, human resources, and compliance sectors. Justine has consistently demonstrated her ability to manage procurement processes efficiently while ensuring compliance with both internal and external standards. Her expertise also includes optimizing operational workflows and improving the transparency and efficiency of financial systems, all of which are essential to the success of SIHA’s work. Justine’s role is also critical in upholding the integrity and accountability of SIHA’s operations.

Sandra Nassali

REGIONAL ADVOCACY & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Sandra is an accomplished communication professional passionate about building knowledge and conducting strategic advocacy initiatives that advance the rights of women and girls.

In addition to feminist activism works, she has, in the last 15 years, pursued her career ambitions in areas of climate change mitigation and adaptation, agriculture and food security, social enterprise development, public health, as well as ICT for Development.

Sandra holds a Master of Arts in Development Journalism and Communication (Strategic & Corporate Communication Management major), plus a Bachelor of Mass Communication (Public Relations & Marketing major) from Makerere University in Kampala Uganda.

Furthermore, she holds a Post Graduate Diploma in ICT for Development and Social Good from the Spanish Telecentres and ICT Spaces Academy in Spain.

Twitter: @SandraNassali

Shinaz Rehema Ali-Zaids

REGIONAL GRANTS AND CAPACITY BUILDING COORDINATOR

Shinaz Rehema Ali-Zaids (She/Her) is a passionate and dedicated advocate for social justice. Her professional journey has focused on women’s rights, marginalized communities, natural resource governance, and climate change. With over a decade of experience in the women’s funding sector, she has offered strategic guidance to international organizations on community-driven, participatory grantmaking.

Deeply committed to her local Nubian community, Shinaz actively engages in local initiatives and serves on various boards to amplify the voices of marginalized groups. Her work addressing human rights gaps at the grassroots level has shaped her passion for strengthening social systems that protect the rights of vulnerable populations. A strong advocate for wellness, Shinaz prioritizes self-care and collective care within teams, recognizing that sustainable social change is rooted in both individual and collective well-being.

Throughout her career, Shinaz has collaborated closely with women to develop long-term, sustainable solutions to their most pressing needs. Her expertise in movement building has been key to expanding programs across diverse regions of Africa. In her current role as the Regional Grants and Capacity Building Coordinator, she supports SIHA Network’s country teams in executing impactful work and scaling their initiatives. Shinaz also provides critical support to women and communities in conflict and post-conflict settings, ensuring their safety, security, and ongoing activism in advancing women’s rights.

Mercy Apiyo Owuor

REGIONAL COORDINATOR: MONITORING, EVALUATION & LEARNING

Mercy is a Public Health Professional with a keen interest in gender equality, equity, and social inclusion. She has over 15 years of experience in programme design and management, as well as monitoring, learning, and evaluation.

This is expertise Mercy has gathered by managing and coordinating multiple projects while working with government entities and civil society organisations at the grassroots, national, and international levels.

Mercy holds a Master of Community Health and Development from the Great Lakes University of Kisumu, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Moi University in Eldoret Kenya.

Twitter: @MercyOwuor2

Mayada Eltayeb

HEAD OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

Mayada Eltayeb is the Head of Finance and Administration at SIHA Network. She joined the organization in 2008 with over a decade of experience in finance and organizational management, leading SIHA’s strategic financial planning and resource management. Born in Sudan and raised in the United Arab Emirates, Mayada earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Ahfad University in Sudan in 2005.

Before joining SIHA, she had gained extensive experience working with various audit and accounting firms, refining her skills in financial analysis and reporting. Under her leadership, SIHA’s Finance and Administration division has strengthened financial processes and policies, ensuring compliance, transparency, and the effective allocation of resources. Mayada’s efforts have been pivotal in supporting the organization’s sustainability and operational excellence. She has also completed several specialized training courses in NGO financial management in Uganda and South Africa, further enhancing her expertise and leadership capabilities.

Faizat Badmus-Busari

REGIONAL PROGRAMME MANAGER

Faizat Badmus-Busari is the Regional Programme Manager at SIHA Network. With a strong background in program management and a Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) degree from Emory University School of Law, she expertly navigates the crossroads of gender, law, religion, and social justice, serving marginalized communities, especially women and girls.

Before SIHA, Faizat held significant positions in international organizations like The Carter Center and various United Nations agencies. There, she managed projects ranging from grassroots efforts to global initiatives, focusing on gender equity, social inclusion, democracy, and human rights. At SIHA, she oversees the network’s regional programs, ensuring the mission and vision are effectively carried out across the Horn of Africa. Faizat brings her extensive gender-transformative, legal, and program management expertise to the role. Guided by a belief in collective action and intersectional feminism, Faizat collaborates with organizations and partners to promote women’s rights, peacebuilding, and social justice in the region.

Hala Al-Karib

REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Hala Al karib was born and raised in Sudan and later lived in Canada. She currently lives and works in Uganda. She has lived and worked in South Sudan, Kenya and Egypt as well the Eastern and Horn of Africa for over 20 years. Hala’s work specifically focuses on women and girls rights activism and social movement as well as refugees and displaced persons and minority community’s challenges. She has wide and comprehensive expertise on the Horn and Eastern Africa regions, as a civil society worker/activist, and social and gender research practitioner. Her educational background is on Human rights, women studies and Psychology. In addition to her work as the Regional Director of SIHA Network, she worked for various international and regional organizations/institutions among them; The College of Social & Economic Studies, Juba University in South Sudan where she worked as a Research Assistant; The sociology department at the American University in Cairo as an Assistant Researcher; Immigrant Women of Saskatchewan Inc. in Canada as the Program Director; Trocaire, an Irish Organization as Grant Officer based in Sudan. She has also worked as a consultant with various international and UN Humanitarian organizations, including; Goal Ireland, World University Services, Accord International and Concern International.

She is a regular contributor to many online and print media outlets. Her writing is focused on activism, women’s rights and social justice. Some of her recent articles are published in: Aljazeera, Open Democracy, Sudan Tribune The Pambazuka, the New Humanitarian and the East African Newspaper. She is the Editorial head of SIHA Journal – Women in Islam in the Horn of Africa (Arabic & English).

Twitter: @Halayalkarib

Kadra Omar

Kadra is a Social Worker from Djibouti currently working with the Ministry of the Promotion of Women & Family Welfare & Social Affairs- Djibouti. She is also a member of the Djiboutian Women’s Union. Kadra currently serves on the Program Advisory.

Dr. Lyn Ossome

Dr. Lyn Ossome is the Director of the Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR), Makerere University. She received her PhD in Political Studies from Wits University. Her specializations and taught courses are in the fields of feminist political economy and feminist political theory, with particular research interests in land and agrarian studies, gendered labour, queer feminist histories and the political economy of gendered violence. She currently serves on the Program Advisory

Aluel Atem

Aluel Atem is a seasoned development economist, blogger, and African Feminist Activist hailing from South Sudan. With over eight years of dedicated experience, her primary focus has been on gender and conflict transformation. Currently serving as a Senior Program Officer at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Aluel holds the role of USIP’s In-country (Kenya) lead for the Border Security Training Program (BSTP). In addition to her role at USIP, Aluel is a co-founder of two women’s rights initiatives: Ma’ Mara Sakit Village and Crown the Woman-South Sudan, both based in South Sudan.

Rose Baryamutuma

Rose is a programme monitoring and evaluation expert with over 15 years of experience providing specialized services for program design, organization capacity assessments, facilitating training and M&E. She has also provided technical support to institutions to develop and cost strategic plans. Rose has broad research experience/evaluation in the areas of HIV and AIDS, Sexual and Reproductive Health. As GBV Focal Person she provides technical support to the GBV National TWG on general program and M&E specifically.

Kimberley Armstrong

Kimberley Armstrong holds a PhD in Anthropology from McGill University in Canada. Her research focused on transitional justice, conflict, and displacement in Northern Uganda, with previous studies on rural-to-urban migration of women in Senegal. She is currently working with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, as the Manager of Program Evaluation and Reporting. Prior to joining the Ministry, she served as SIHA Network’s Regional Programmes Manager for over six years.

Jemimah Naburri-Kaheru

Currently serving as the Association for Women’s Rights in Development [AWID]’s Deputy Director of Human Resources, is an accomplished international Human Rights [HR] strategist with a significant experience in the Horn of Africa region. With a background in Development Studies from Makerere University (Uganda) and an ongoing MBA in Human Resource Management, Jemimah is dedicated to continuous professional development. Her contributions to building high-performance workforces and her leadership in international HR make her an invaluable asset to any global enterprise. Additionally, Jemimah serves as the Program Advisor, supporting with operations at SIHA Network.

Abdifatah Hassan Ali

Abdifatah is a Somali human rights defender with extensive experience in advocacy within the civil society arena. He is the Founder of the Digital Shelter – a local initiative founded in March 2018 by activists who are passionate about the intersection between technology and human rights in Somalia with the aim of promoting digital safety, digital rights and inclusion and internet freedom in the growing digital civic space of Somalia. He holds a Masters Degree in Human rights. Currently works for the UN as a Human rights officer in Somalia

Guleid Ahmed Jama

​Guleid is an active human rights defender and an Attorney at law the Xaqdoon Law Firm​, based​ in Somaliland. He is the ​C​o-founder and former ​C​hairperson of Human Rights Center (HRC), a human rights advocacy organization ​also based in Somaliland. ​​Guleid currently serv​es​ as a Program Advisor.

Asmahan Hassen

Ms. Asmahan is one of the founders of SIHA, currently serving as Advisor to the SIHA Board. She is currently Chairperson of Nagaad Network in Somaliland. She has also served as Chairperson of the Somaliland Women’s Research and Action Group (SOWRAG). Asmahan is actively involved in the Somaliland women rights arena as a women human rights defender. Her tenure spans 23 years. She is a graduate of Arts and Humanities from the University of Khartoum.

Peace Twine Kyamureku

Peace Twine Kyamureku is the Executive Director of the Ruth Fund Uganda. She is a secondary school teacher by profession, holding a Master of Arts Degree from Makerere University and has trained in Gender, Human Rights and Civil Society Studies. She currently serves on the Advisory to the SIHA Board.

Saba Gebremedhin

Saba is currently the Executive Director of the Network of Ethiopian Women’s Associations (NEWA), a member organization of SIHA Network. Saba is a Lawyer in the Ethiopian Courts of Law by training and profession having served as a Special Prosecutor. She is also one of the founders of the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA). In her tenure, she has served as a Consultant at the IGAD Gender Unit and the African Union Women, Gender and Development Directorate (WGDD).

Kaltun Hassan

Ms. Kaltun is a Gender Expert and Women Rights Activist from Somaliland. She has served in a number of positions within civil society organizations advocating for, and working in women’s rights, gender equality, and peace-building. She serves on the Board of Directors of Women Advocacy and Progress organization (WAAPO). Kaltun was recently re-elected as the only woman on the Somaliland Electoral Commission.

Fadwo Hassan

Fadwo Hassan Jimale is a Somali woman rights activist with experience spanning 10 years in gender-mainstreaming and social protection of women and children in Somalia. I have Ten (10) years’ experience in excellence of general protection and development of gender mainstreaming. Her experience in GBV survivor work in Somalia has necessitated her participation in women’s movement-building work particularly with the women and Child Cluster in Somalia. Fadwo has represented SIHA in a number of national and regional spaces contributing to SIHA’s mandate of advocating for the acknowledgment of women rights in view of the lived realities of women and girls in the region.

Rigbe Gebrehewariat Hagos

Rigbe is a passionate women rights activist from Ethiopia, trained as a Lawyer and Social Worker, who has dedicated her career to advocating for people with disabilities, especially women. She works to spread awareness about people with disabilities and what they are able to achieve. She is the Co-founder and treasurer of Ethiopian Lawyers with Disabilities Association (ELDA), Co-founder and board chair of Setawit and a member of the United Nations Women Civil Society Advisory Group She is also a 2016 Mandela Washington Fellow. Rigbe sits on the Board of Directors of the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA) – a member of SIHA Network. She currently serves on the SIHA Board of Directors.

Zabib Loro Musa

Zabib Loro Musa is the Executive Director of Women for Justice and Equality (WOJE), a feminist advocacy organization dedicated to advancing and advocating for the rights of women in marginalized communities across South Sudan. At WOJE, she leads the organization’s efforts to implement the Women’s Peace and Security agenda in grassroots communities throughout South Sudan.

Keltun Qasim

Kaltun Qasim is the Director of Women’s Human Rights Education and Environment in Somaliland. Her organization works in different rural and urban centres in Somaliland and has been a member of SIHA for more than 10 years.

Lillian Byarugaba Adriko

Lilian Byarugaba Adriko is the CEO of FIDA-Uganda and is a very well known woman advocate and rights defender in the country playing a significant role in improving the status of women by promoting their socio-economic rights and justice and advancing gender equality within Uganda.

Omayma Elmardi

Ms. Omayma Amin Elmardi is the Director at the National Sudanese Women Association (NSWA) a member organisation of SIHA Network. She holds a Bachelors of Science from Cairo University – Khartoum branch, a Post-graduate Diploma in Development Studies and a Master of Science in Development Planning from the Development Studies and Research Institute (DSRI) University of Khartoum. Omayma currently serves as the Chairperson of the SIHA Board of Directors.