Suliman Baldo, Annette Weber, Amira Osman, Osama Kheir Mohamed, Irene Horejs

SUDAN’S DEVASTING WAR ON PEOPLE – WHAT INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE?

Five years ago, a peaceful civil society uprising has managed to oust Sudan´s long term dictator Omar Al Beshir and to install a joint civilian-military government for a 3 years transition to democratic elections 3. However, a military coup in October 2021 put an end to hope for democracy and in April 2022, the two power sharing military forces initiated a cruel war with devastating effects on the country. At present, as a result of looting, the conscious destruction of the economy and the use of hunger as a weapon of war by both warring parties, 10 million people have been displaced and 25 million face the threat of a man made massive famine and starvation.

The war in Sudan has also devastating effects on its already instable neighboring countries on the continent. By its strategic location at the Red Sea it has huge implications for the Arab Peninsula as well as for international trade and migration. Multiple international players have a stake in this crisis, most prominently Saudi Arabia and the UAE as active supporters of belligerents, but Russia, the US, the EU and others have their stakes too. Different mediation efforts by Egypt and other neighboring countries, the African Union, Saudia Arabia and the US had little success so far.

Yet, despite the humanitarian catastrophe and international implications of this crisis, there seems to be little attention to it by Western media and decision makers. “The world is failing to live up to its commitments to protect civilians in armed conflict”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned. When states fail to protect its citizens, the international community has a responsibility in doing so.

Who are the different conflict parties, what are their interests and who is behind them? Why have the different efforts for mediations failed so far? Why do Western powers not intervene more strongly in this catastrophic conflict in a region which combines so many interests for them?

What has become of the strong Sudanese civil society mouvements? What role can they play in the current conflict situation? Within the country and as Sudanese diaspora? How can Sudanese civil society and the diaspora contribute to support humanitarian relieve for the victims of this war?

These and other questions will be addressed in this panel discussion, which constitutes the opening event of a 3 days meeting of representatives of the Sudanese diaspora from 9 European countries in Vienna.

Suliman Baldo: Executive Director of Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker. Formerly led Sudan Democracy First Group, advised U.N. teams in Darfur, and worked with ICTJ, ICG, and HRW. Holds a PhD in Comparative Literature.

Annette Weber: EU Special Representative to the Horn of Africa with 25+ years in the region. Former head of Africa/Middle East at SWP, mediated in Sudan and Ethiopia, and taught conflict studies. Holds a PhD in Political Science.

Amira Osman: Peace activist focused on gender and diaspora. Co-founder of Sudan's Gender Centre for Research and Training, holds a PhD in Peace Studies, and has published on Sudanese women's roles in peace efforts.

Osama Kheir Mohamed: Activist and political science student in Vienna, focused on international politics, African theory, and anti-racism.

In cooperation with:
VIDC – Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation
Mendy for peace culture and diversity management

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