CONFLICTED Conflicted Revisited… Husam Mahjoub – How Foreign States are Fuelling Sudan’s Civil War
Nov 12, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Hussam Mahjoub, a Sudanese journalist and founder of Sudan Bukra, shares his firsthand perspective on the escalating civil war in Sudan. He explores the rise of the RSF, the role of various foreign powers like Egypt and the UAE, and the historical context behind the conflict's deep-rooted issues. Hussam highlights how resource grievances transformed into identity conflicts, and he calls for confronting foreign influence to rebuild Sudanese civil society. His analysis reveals crucial insights into the ongoing humanitarian disaster.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
From Khartoum To Oman To Georgia Tech
- Hussam grew up in Khartoum but spent formative years in Oman and studied telecom engineering at UAE University.
- He later won the US diversity visa, moved to Atlanta, and completed a master's at Georgia Tech before returning to Sudan.
Building An Independent Broadcast From Exile
- Hussam Mahjoub and colleagues founded Sudan Bukra as a low-budget satellite TV channel in 2014 to bypass internet shutdowns and state media control.
- They relaunched during the 2019 revolution with diaspora and trade-union support and kept broadcasting when the internet was cut.
Strong Security, Weak State, Divided Publics
- Sudan's weak national state paired a very strong security apparatus that mastered media manipulation and elite control.
- This reality meant many outside regions lived disconnected lives and were unaware of atrocities like Darfur.