How to Lose a Country in One Day: The Conflict in Sudan and the Politics of Revolutionary Change

Since the December 2019 revolution, the balance of power in Khartoum has been unstable during the transitional period, with the civilian government lacking control over security organs. The decision to form a transitional government with military elements proved to be ill-fated, as they were implicated in human rights violations and sought to protect their economic interests. Furthermore, the international community's strategy of containment failed in Sudan. Altogether, leading not only to political turmoil and the marginalization of civilian voices but, eventually, the current conflict in Sudan, which started on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The international community's involvement in Sudan has had mixed results. While some initiatives aimed to support a civilian-led transition, the neighbourhood Resistance Committees (RCs) focused on addressing the immediate concerns of the Sudanese people. They deemed these initiatives inadequate for genuine political transformation. The political actors and observers often failed to understand the dynamics on the ground, while the RCs demonstrated political acumen despite their marginalization. Understanding the complexities and alternative narratives surrounding political transformation in Sudan is crucial for working towards a future that truly serves the Sudanese people. This event seeks to highlight the conflict and politics of revolutionary change in Sudan. It emphasizes the voices that are often ignored or silenced in political processes driven by international and regional interests: the pursuit of non-violent resistance, justice, and accountability, and their aspirations for freedom, peace, and justice remain the driving forces. SPEAKERS: Professor Khalid Medani | Professor of Political Science and Islamic Studies at McGill University Dr Ali Ali | Teaching Fellow at SOAS University of London Dr Hussameldiene Ismael | Active member in Old Omdurman Resistance Committees and a member of Economic Coalition of December Revolution Dr Abdel Salam Sidahmed | Former Regional Representative of the Office of the OHCHR in MENA Dr Nada Ali | SOAS University of London (Chair) This seminar is part of the Sudan Seminar Series launched in September 2022. Click here to watch the previous seminars: https://blogs.soas.ac.uk/cop/event/th....