Press Statement: Urgent Call for Action on the Crisis in Sudan

Nairobi, 23^rd November 2023 — We, the Sudanese and African front-line women peace activists, convened by the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network, call for global solidarity with Sudan. The “Feminist Peace and Solidarity Conference: Women Leading Peace,” held on November 22-23, 2023, brought together over 140 participants, with a special focus on the unique challenges faced by women and peacemakers during the ongoing conflict.

We stand at a critical juncture, witnessing the unfolding tragedy in Sudan—a situation that has experienced failure by the international diplomatic and humanitarian community.  This crisis, which began as an armed conflict between two warring parties, the RSF and SAF, has escalated across Sudan into a broader war on citizens, particularly targeting women’s bodies, livelihoods, homes, and dignity. This alarming campaign of aggression exposes the intense impact of war on the lives of innocent civilians.

Since the outbreak of war on 15 April 2023, Sudan has been gripped by an unprecedented wave of brutality that has its roots in the volatile nature of the Sudanese State. The chilling events in Sudan lay bare the immense toll of violence on Sudanese women, girls, men, and boys. There is a shameful lack of diplomatic and humanitarian attention, while mutual aid and women frontline responders carry the burden of community survival. The international community must not abandon Sudan and ensure a cessation of hostilities now.

The current situation demands our immediate attention and collective feminist action. It is a call to confront the gendered viciousness that has befallen civilians, particularly women, who find themselves on the front lines of this unconscionable war. Our responsibility is to expose the heinous nature of this conflict, record and report the violations, amplify the voices of Sudanese women and girls, and rally against the forces seeking to extinguish the spirit of the Sudanese people.

During the conference, critical discussions and shared experiences highlighted the indispensable role of women in shaping Sudan’s future. As the conference concludes, we demand de-facto local authorities, national governments, regional and international organizations to:

1. A gender-responsive protection framework that ensures unhindered access to survivor- and community-led humanitarian aid for citizens impacted by the war and ensures that the voices of those on the frontline are not silenced by violence and intimidation.

2. A cessation of hostility is monitored closely, with actionable consequences if violated. While facilitating a broad-based and inclusive civilian-led conflict transformation process in which women play a leading role.

3. Sustainable feminist and flexible funding for civil society and women’s rights organizations working in conflict zones, including internally displaced and refugee camps.

4. Enhanced support for adequate humanitarian aid for the civilians affected by the conflict by providing resources and programs to support their economic stability and social well-being, along with mental health and psychosocial support services.

5. Sexual and gender-based violence must never be sidelined as a mere peripheral issue. It is central to any political process, including accountability, reparations, and transitional justice.

6. That armed actors be accountable for their responsibility for mass violation instead of granting immunity and perpetuating the cycle of conflict as a trade-off for short-term stability.

7. The African Union engages in immediate and decisive actions, including diplomatic interventions aimed at facilitating the cessation of hostilities and establishing a fact-finding mission.

8. The inclusion and meaningful, leading participation of women and women-led organizations in peace processes and negotiations.

9. The swift implementation of the resolution for a fact-finding mission by the UN Human Rights Council. This mission must be gender-responsive and consult with women-led organizations that have been central to providing support and documenting violations on the ground.

10. The establishment of a tribunal to address the war crimes committed during the conflict, focusing on crimes against women and girls to ensure sustainable justice and accountability.

11. International action to stop illicit financial streams and political economies that enrich key perpetrators of violence.

In solidarity with the women of Sudan, SIHA and the women attending the conference commit to continuing our activism and advocacy for the rights and well-being of Sudanese women, calling for a global response that is both immediate and sustained. We commit to coordinating the voices of civil society organizations for collective action and to ensure our agenda is rooted, transparent, streamlined, and our demands are amplified. In the face of adversity, we unite to shine a light on the darkness enveloping Sudan.

In conclusion, this was not merely a conference; it was a collective stand against aggression, a proclamation that the world should not turn a blind eye to the suffering of the Sudanese people.