Sudan

In Sudan, decades of authoritarian rule and overlapping conflicts have left a legacy of widespread human rights abuses, trauma, and impunity. ICTJ works with Sudanese stakeholders to encourage dialogue and establish priorities around truth, justice, and reparations to help build a future Sudan that breaks cycles of violence and is just and inclusive.

 

Image of Darfur villages that have been pillaged and burned, leaving many thousands displaced.

In Darfur, many thousands of people were displaced after their villages were pillaged and burned. (Lynsey Addario/VII Network)

Current

Background: A Legacy of Conflicts, Charting a Path for Justice

Since independence in 1956, Sudan has experienced chronic instability and conflicts among government forces, armed groups, and militias resulting in the death and displacement of millions throughout the country. From the civil war with former Southern Sudan (which became the independent state of South Sudan in 2011), to conflicts in Darfur, South Kordofan, and the Blue Nile States, Sudanese civilians have been systematically targeted and subjected to mass atrocities and violations of their rights, including extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, sexual and gender-based violence, and the destruction of communities. The underlying causes of conflict are largely rooted in unanswered calls for an inclusive governance and a fair power- and wealth-sharing system. 

On April 11, 2019, the Transitional Military Council deposed and arrested President Omar al-Bashir following the brutal suppression of monthslong peaceful protests calling for reforms. This launched Sudan into a process of transition to civilian rule, which included a landmark constitutional declaration establishing an independent commission on transitional justice, the first cabinet led by a civilian in 30 years, and a comprehensive peace agreement grounded in sustainable peace and inclusive development aimed at addressing the root causes of the country’s multiple conflicts.   

In October 2021, a military coup d’état disrupted Sudan’s transitional government and began a new period of instability and human rights violations. Subsequent civilian protests and international pressure compelled the military to reach an agreement in November 2021 to reinstate Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. However, exclusion of the transitional government’s civilian coalition from the agreement exacerbated political tensions, and within three months Hamdok resigned, citing an impasse in the political process.    

On April 15, 2023, conflict erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the capital, Khartoum, and quickly spread to the rest of the country. The current situation has led to the worst humanitarian and displacement crisis in the world and reports of genocide in Darfur for the second time in the last 20 years. Evolving domestic alliances, changing power dynamics on the ground, and deepening political divisions present obstacles to establishing a unified national front for negotiating a durable and credible peace agreement. While the international community endeavors to bring the SAF and RSF to the negotiating table and end the conflict, any credible effort to meaningfully and sustainably address the root causes of violence in Sudan requires the participation of a broad range of actors, including victims and civil society. Despite significant challenges and the ongoing conflict, Sudanese stakeholders continue to prioritize transitional justice and remain determined to develop justice-related strategies to seek truth, address the consequences of decades of violations, and stop cycles of violence.

ICTJ's Role

Since 2020, ICTJ has empowered Sudanese stakeholders to articulate their demands and help design victim-centered, gender-sensitive, and inclusive transitional justice strategies in Sudan.  

  • Strengthening civil society. ICTJ supports Sudanese civil society organizations by building capacities and knowledge around key transitional justice issues and facilitating a nuanced understanding of justice and accountability. Since 2023, over 400 Sudanese have attended ICTJ’s targeted and discussion-based workshops, helping establish a base of understanding in society to develop a vision and priorities for transitional justice in Sudan. Following ICTJ’s workshops, civil society participants have been inspired to disseminate information to others and carry out their own transitional justice-related activities.
     
  • Fostering inclusive dialogue. ICTJ facilitates inclusive dialogue on transitional justice issues among diverse stakeholders, representing different regional, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, including victims, civil society organizations, artists, women’s associations, lawyers, media professionals, community leaders, members of armed groups, and members of the civil service. For many, ICTJ activities are the first time they engage in dialogue with members of another community. Bringing together Sudanese across divisions in society creates space to discuss views on transitional justice, build consensus, and establish a common agenda on how to address the past.  
     
  • Establishing networks. ICTJ’s work has contributed to the formation of specialized transitional justice groups, namely the Youth Platform for Transitional Justice, the Youth Network for War Reconciliation, and the Women’s Group for Transitional Justice.