CIVICUS discusses the humanitarian crisis caused by conflict in Sudan and civil society’s role in responding with members of Adeela, a youth led local civil society organisation (CSO) working for a democratic Sudan.

Since April 2023, fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces militia has caused over 150,000 deaths, displaced more than 14 million people and left millions struggling as basic services have collapsed. Amid this chaos, local CSOs like Adeela are stepping in to support communities through creative approaches, using culture-based methods to document abuses, provide hope and engage young people in peacebuilding efforts.

What’s the situation in Sudan?

Sudan is in the midst of a deep political and security crisis. Fighting continues across much of the country, with southern and western regions such as Darfur and Kordofan experiencing some of the most intense violence. This has caused mass displacement and growing food insecurity. Areas considered safer are overwhelmed, with shelters stretched far beyond capacity as people flee frontline zones.

Sudan is effectively divided, with different authorities controlling different territories. Military authorities have imposed strict security measures that have severely limited freedom of movement and civil society’s ability to work. Young people are particularly affected. Many youth-led groups are under constant threat, facing surveillance, arrest and the forced closure of their initiatives, and many young activists have been pushed to leave their homes. This is weakening local peacebuilding and community efforts just as they are most needed.

But despite the enormous challenges, Sudanese civil society continues to play a crucial role. Across different regions, CSOs are advocating for peace and accountability, countering hate speech and disinformation, documenting human rights violations, offering psychological help and providing humanitarian support to displaced people and survivors of sexual violence. Their work bridges gaps left by state institutions that have collapsed or are unable to deliver services.

How does Adeela use art to support people and promote change?

We use arts and culture as powerful tools for documentation, mobilisation and solidarity. Through the Matmoora project, we document abuses committed during the conflict through artistic expression and storytelling.

We have used film, illustration, music and photography to commemorate victims of the war and highlight the suffering of affected communities. Our ‘The Blue Sultanate: Arts Revive the Memory of Sennar’ event brought together artists to honour survivors and reclaim cultural memory.

Through a video, ‘The Famine Scenario’, we drew attention to the use of starvation as a weapon of war in El Fasher, the city recently taken by the RSF. Beyond advocacy and documentation, we seek to inspire broader social change. Our book, ‘The Effect of the Butterfly’, explored how artistic expression can fuel social change and highlights the journeys of Sudanese artivists.

Through these initiatives, we engage young people by speaking directly to the issues affecting their lives, using accessible and relatable language across all our platforms. Young Sudanese people are active online, so our advocacy uses creative content, digital storytelling and social media to broaden conversations on humanitarian needs, justice and peace.

But we face challenges as a result of severe security restrictions and the fragmentation of authority. Access is extremely limited, particularly in areas most affected by fighting. Constant insecurity also exposes our teams and partners to risk, making operational planning difficult and at times forcing us to pause activities.

What are you currently working on?

Our current work focuses on raising awareness of humanitarian crises in conflict-affected areas and advocating for people experiencing ongoing violations. We publish advocacy briefs and appeals and build alliances with other CSOs that share our goals.

Our ‘Siege of Slow Death’ campaign sheds light on the suffering of communities trapped under siege. Through this initiative, we launched the ‘Voices from Under Siege’ fundraising channel on GlobalGiving, which has helped secure and deliver essential support to affected areas. We also released a public statement calling for the lifting of the siege on El Fasher, endorsed by a wide coalition of local and regional organisations. By partnering with platforms with large followings, these campaigns have reached broad audiences and generated strong public engagement.

What future do you see for Sudan?

Sudan faces an uncertain future. Without a political solution, the conflict risks becoming protracted, deepening humanitarian suffering and driving further division across regions and communities.

Even in this context, we remain committed to fostering inclusive political and social dialogue through cultural events, forums and publications. We will continue supporting community-based and youth-led peacebuilding initiatives, amplifying their ideas and solutions. We will keep working on accountability and justice by documenting human rights violations and pushing for a comprehensive transitional justice framework that centres the voices of affected communities.

Our hope is to contribute to a future of dignity, justice and peace.