Unifying Sudan’s youth movements: A path towards peace

Sudan’s youth movements played a crucial role in the revolution, but war and polarization have torn them apart. We need a united youth movement to lead the way towards sustainable peace. How can they be brought back together?

From the peaceful protests that toppled the former regime in 2019 to the formation of  Sudanese resistance committees in their current form, Sudanese youth have proven themselves as a force to be reckoned with. But war and the increased militarisation of civilian life have led to fragmentation among the youth movements. Now, more than ever, Sudan’s youth must unify and strengthen their alliances to reclaim their role in shaping the country’s future.

Healing the divisions
The outbreak of the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023 has splintered the youth into two main factions: While some support one of the warring parties, others have chosen the path of humanitarian work or political negotiation. The resistance committees that leading up to the revolution provided a deeply meaningful way for youth to engage have been temporarily forced to change their focus. War, with the displacement of many of the members, and a tightening of the civic space through frequent security checks, have led many of the members away from traditional civil work and into humanitarian efforts. That being said, their engagement is not crushed. The war may have forced them into firefighters, focusing on providing desperately needed humanitarian aid, but they are not letting go of the more long-term comprehensive transformation of the whole country they were fighting for.

The absence of a unified political vision has deepened the divisions, with disinformation and tribal and regional affiliations further driving polarization even among and within resistance committees.

But what has caused fragmentation can also lead to reinvigorated alliances: The youth movements’ opposition to war is a uniting factor. In the months to come, it is imperative that they work towards healing their divisions. The revolutionary experience has shown that the youth movement and the resistance committees can play a crucial role in shaping events and fostering a process of peace. Their main task now is to realise this political potential and build a cohesive movement that can lead Sudan out of the destructive war in a way that radically differs from current peace attempts of elitist power sharing model that perpetuate the very war structures.

But what has caused fragmentation can also lead to reinvigorated alliances: The youth movements’ opposition to war is a uniting factor.

Building a unified front
The proliferation of youth movements and resistance committees across the entire country and the many vocal voices for peace give hope of consolidation. They are deeply embedded in their communities, they work at the grassroot level, they have revolutionary experience, and they know how to build platforms for collective action. Youth movements need to avoid the urban, elitist approaches that exclude the masses from political participation and consequently deny them broader political support and legitimacy. With this, and contrary to many urban elitist political parties, the youth alliances will depend more on Sudanese peoples support than reliance on the international community’s pressure/politics.      

Youth movements need to avoid the urban, elitist approaches that exclude the masses from political participation and consequently deny them broader political support and legitimacy. 

Now, the key to success lies in building a common vision and strong alliances that transcend politics, ethnic and regional divisions. By leveraging their heritage of revolution and expertise in coordination, the youth can become a force that pushes not just for an end to the war, but for long-term solutions that address the root causes of Sudan’s conflict. They have already addressed how they can contribute to building a sustainable peace in their charters

To achieve this, the youth must engage with other political actors, traditional leaders, and civil society organizations. Collaborating with these groups, while maintaining their own distinct voice, will strengthen their capacity to influence negotiations and policy.

They can also rely on the experience from the humanitarian work they are now undertaking. This work is not just about survival—it is also about laying the groundwork for cohesion and a new social fabric based on civilian principles that prioritise the needs of the people rather than military rule.

Moving forward: Action steps for unity
Sudan’s youth movements now have the opportunity to redefine what it means to be politically engaged in a time of war. To move forward, they need to take several concrete steps:

• Strengthen alliances: Youth groups must actively work to bridge divides and unite around a common political vision focused on ending the war and building a democratic future. These efforts should be inclusive, welcoming diverse perspectives, and creating a space where differences are acknowledged and respected, rather than deepened.
• Raise awareness: Launch a nationwide anti-war campaign that educates citizens about the dangers of ethnic and tribal polarization and promotes peace through dialogue. Such a campaign should not only consist of protests on the streets but can also make widespread use of posters and leaflets that challenge the warring parties’ narrative that they represent the people of Sudan and their interests.
• Build platforms for dialogue: Create spaces for discussion, where youth from different backgrounds can come together, share their ideas, and collaborate on initiatives for peace and political reform.
• Engage with grassroots level and traditional leaders: Work with community leaders, religious figures, grassroots formations in local communities, and civil society to create a unified stance against the war and foster local cohesion.
• Use humanitarian work as a bridge: Continue humanitarian efforts, but also use them as a platform to promote peace and unity, demonstrating that the youth’s role is not only to prevent the effects of war but also to stop the war and rebuild the country.
• Press for military and security sector reform: Press the military to negotiate an end to the war and reform the military and armed forces in a way that does not leave room for any militia beside the professional national army. It is also imperative that the national army does not involve itself in internal politics and governance.

The road to peace may still be long, but with determination, unity, and a clear vision, the youth of Sudan can help lead the way toward a stable and democratic nation.

This Sudanese Perspectives blog post is written by Shahinaz Jamal. She is a Sudanese political activist and human rights defender. She is also a member of the resistance committees in Khartoum.

This blog post is the first in a series focusing on different aspects of youth’s responses to the war, and on the crucial role they can play in pushing for and building sustainable peace in Sudan. The series is the outcome of a SNAC workshop that brought together a large group of SNAC fellows and young Sudanese researchers and activists. The views expressed in this post are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the SNAC project or CMI.