Sudan Can’t Wait: Voices from Darfur Six Months into the Crisis

In the six months since the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces began in April 2023, a human rights, humanitarian, and displacement crisis has devastated the country. At least 5 million people have been displaced, including 1 million to surrounding countries. More than half the population is facing severe food insecurity, including 6 million one step below famine. Amid the broader crisis, mass atrocities in Darfur harken back to the genocide from 20 years ago. Women and girls have been targeted with widespread sexual violence. Yet, the crisis, and the specter of genocide, have not received the level of attention, action, or support needed.

We were happy to join the Alliance for Peacebuilding, Darfur Women Action Group, iACT, Never Again Coalition, Refugees International, and Vital Voices for this event featuring Sudanese refugee and diaspora voices to discuss the current challenges faced in Darfur and across Sudan and to put forth recommendations for ways forward.

This was a hybrid event. The in-person component took place at Vital Voices’ offices, located at 1509 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. The virtual component took place over YouTube.

Speakers:

Quscondy Abdulshafi, Senior Regional Advisor-Africa, Freedom House

Niemat Ahmadi, Founder and President, Darfur Women Action Group

Hala AlKarib, Regional Director, Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network

Moderator:

Abdullahi Halakhe, Senior Advocate for East and Southern Africa, Refugees International