Sudan Dialogues: Mobilizing for Peace, De-Escalation and International Solidarity

1. Rationale
The ongoing conflict in Sudan is one of the most serious crises in Africa today, with major humanitarian, political and security consequences for the region and beyond. Since April 2023, the Sudanese people have been suffering the horror of two leaders vying for power: General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane and General Mohamed Hamdane Dagalo. The war in Sudan has resulted in the devastating loss of more than 150,000 civilian lives and the displacement of more than 12 million people. The country is the scene of human rights violations, with widespread abuses particularly affecting civilians caught up in the clashes. Behind this narrative, so often presented in the Western media, of a rivalry between two leaders, lie other, far more complex conflicts, involving a constellation of international players who are supporting the war with weapons and troops. This conflict cannot be understood without taking into account its deep roots, including the legacies of colonialism, the fragility of state institutions, as well as the contemporary dynamics of geopolitical competition and external interference. Sudan is now at the crossroads of regional and international interests that complicate the prospects for resolution. Faced with the gravity of the situation in Sudan, it is imperative to go beyond traditional state-centered approaches and militarized logics, in order to focus on the essential role that citizens' movements, civil society organizations and transnational networks have to play in facilitating dialogue, mobilizing humanitarian aid, building trust and promoting sustainable solutions. The World Social Forum in Cotonou represents a strategic opportunity to amplify these voices, strengthen solidarity and lay the foundations for collective action in favor of a peaceful Sudan.2. Objective of the Sudan dialogues
Contribute to the understanding of the Sudanese conflict and to the mobilization of citizen movements and regional and international networks in favor of de-escalation, peace and solidarity with the affected populations.
Specifically, the dialogues will focus on:
- The holistic understanding of the causes of the conflict in Sudan;
- Highlighting local and regional peace and solidarity initiatives, and strengthening international solidarity networks;
- The identification of non-violent actions and alternatives to militarism in the management of the conflict, in favor of a ceasefire and to support the affected populations.