Sudan is experiencing one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, yet global attention remains minimal. As the conflict enters its second year, the scale of suffering is staggering. More than 14 million people have been forced from their homes, famine has been declared in multiple regions, and over 30 million require urgent humanitarian assistance. Reports of rape, torture, and ethnically motivated violence are widespread, with women and children bearing the brunt of the crisis.
Despite the severity of Sudan’s ongoing humanitarian crisis, the world’s attention remains fragmented and insufficient. This lack of sustained international focus stems from several interconnected factors. The global media is inundated with multiple crises, creating a sense of fatigue that makes it difficult for Sudan’s plight to break through. As a result, other conflicts and emergencies often dominate headlines, leaving Sudan’s suffering underreported and overlooked.
Geopolitical interests also play a significant role. Unlike other regions where international actors have clear strategic stakes, Sudan’s conflict does not directly engage the interests of major Western or regional powers. The absence of significant geopolitical incentives means there is less pressure for diplomatic intervention or robust humanitarian responses.
Access and security pose further challenges. Journalists and aid organisations operating in Sudan face immense risks, making it difficult to gather and disseminate information about the crisis. This limited flow of information hampers efforts to mobilise global outrage or prompt meaningful action.
Finally, underlying structural racism and marginalisation contribute to the disparity in attention. African crises frequently receive less coverage and fewer resources than those occurring in the Global North, reflecting deeper systemic inequities in both international response and media coverage. Together, these factors explain why Sudan’s humanitarian emergency struggles to command the sustained, comprehensive attention it urgently requires.
The feminist response
Despite these challenges, Sudanese women are not passive victims. They are frontline responders, organisers, and advocates for peace and justice.
Sudanese feminist initiatives include:
- Women have led grassroots relief efforts, providing food, shelter, and medical aid through informal networks when formal humanitarian channels fail.
- Feminist groups like “Feminists for Peace” mobilised even before political parties, advocating for a peace process that centres women’s experiences and leadership.
- Women’s emergency response rooms coordinate aid, share safety information, and support survivors of gender-based violence, often using digital tools to overcome mobility and security barriers.
But there are barriers to feminist action, like:
- Exclusion from decision-making spaces and peace negotiations remains a major obstacle. Patriarchal attitudes often dismiss women’s expertise and leadership, relegating them to the margins during critical discussions.
- Chronic underfunding of feminist organisations undermines their ability to sustain and scale their work, even as they fill gaps left by state and international actors.
What can feminists do?
- Amplify Sudanese voices: Use platforms to share stories of Sudanese women and grassroots initiatives, countering the silence and invisibility imposed by international neglect.
- Advocate for inclusive peace: Demand that women’s rights organisations and activists are not only included but also lead peace and humanitarian efforts, in line with UN recommendations.
- Mobilise resources: Push donors to provide flexible, long-term funding to feminist groups on the ground, moving beyond short-term emergency aid to support movement-building and systemic change.
- Solidarity and pressure: Build global feminist solidarity networks to pressure governments and international bodies to act, so that Sudan’s crisis is not forgotten.
“Sudanese women continue to mobilise as the crisis deepens, demanding equal representation in peace and humanitarian efforts.”
Sudan’s crisis is not just a humanitarian emergency—it is a feminist issue. The world’s indifference must be challenged, and feminists everywhere have a critical role to play in amplifying Sudanese women’s leadership, advocating for justice, and mobilizing the resources needed to build a peaceful and inclusive future.
This piece was written for the May 2025 edition of Postscripts, Shamillah Wilson’s monthly round-up of what’s been happening in feminist circles, her work, and some recommended reading suggestions.
