Sudan Solidarity Conference 2023

• Stop the war in Sudan
• Sudanese Armed Forces’ and Rapid Support Forces’ leaders are war criminals
• Safe passage for refugees
• Solidarity with the struggle for democracy, restore civilian rule now

Saturday 30 September, 11-4.30pm

Doors open 11-11.30 am for refreshments and networking, conference sessions start at 11.30am. In-person and online tickets available. Please note, the working language of the conference is English. We will record contributions by speakers and publish with Arabic subtitles after the event.

Book on Eventbrite

Hamilton House, 4 Mabledon Pl, London WC1H 9BB and on Zoom

The war which broke out in Sudan on 15 April is a conflict between two factions of the military regime which seized power in October 2021: the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces militia (which grew out of the Janjaweed paramilitary groups notorious for their role in genocide and ethnic cleansing in Darfur). The revolutionary movement which mobilised millions on the streets and in the workplaces across Sudan to throw out the dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019 has taken a clear stance opposing both sides in the war, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the provision of humanitarian aid.

The two sides in this war are backed by regional powers allied with Britain: Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israel. All have contributed weapons, training, intelligence to one or the other. The British government has also stoked the conflict directly by granting export licences for military equipment to Sudan worth £188,000 in 2021-22, and by integrating the Rapid Support Forces and other elements of the Sudanese security forces into ‘migration management’ initiatives along with EU states. For acting as Fortress Europe’s proxy border guards, Sudanese government agencies received £187 million in 2017 alone.

Yet the British government has shut the door in the face of people fleeing the war in Sudan. Hundreds of British citizens are trapped in the country, and Sudanese citizens, including those with relatives in Britain, have no way to reach safety here. Meanwhile the government ramps up its racist, divisive rhetoric against “illegal migration”.

This conference will:

• Provide a platform for anti-war voices from Sudan, especially those of trade unionists, resistance committees, revolutionary activists and all those campaigning for democratic, civilian rule.
• Call on foreign governments to stop fuelling the generals’ war machine through diplomatic, military and financial support to the combatants.
• Demand safe passage now for Sudanese refugees and an end to the government’s toxic rhetoric on migration.
• Amplify the demands of the Sudanese revolution for democratic, civilian government and social justice for all.
• Create a space for trade union and activists from different parts of the world to come to come together and strengthen their respective campaigns

Join us on 30 September for panel discussions and campaign workshop sessions. Bring your ideas and energy to help us build a stronger solidarity movement.

Speakers include: 

• Dr Sara Abdelgalil (Sudanese trade unionist and spokesperson for the Sudanese Professionals Association until August 2019)
• Veronika Adam (Refugee solidarity campaigner)
• Rania Amin (Sudan Uprising Support Group)
• Alaa Gilgal (General secretary, Sudanese Engineers Union) / Tarig Ahmed (Sudanese Engineers Union)
• Dr Ismail Hamid (Sudan Heritage Protection Initiative)
• Dr Justine Mercer (President, University and College Union – UCU)
• Louise Regan (National Education Union (NEU), NEC member)
• Emma Rose (National President, National Education Union – NEU)
• Wafaa Salim (President, Khartoum University Alumni Association – UK and Ireland)
• Khalid Sidahmed (MENA Solidarity)
• Mohaned Elnour (Sudanese Lawyers Democratic Front)
• Hector Wesley (National Executive Committee, PCS union – UK)
• Sarah Richard (Academic secretary, Sudan Doctors Union – UK)
• Naima Omar (Anti-racist activist, Stand Up To Racism)
• Othaylat Suliman (Chairperson, Sudanese Journalists Forum – UK)
• Dr Abdel Mutaal Girshab (Former Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Gezira and human rights activist)

Draft agenda: 

Time	Session
11am – 11.30	Doors open for tea / refreshments and networking
11.30 am – 12.45	Opening plenary: The war in Sudan and its international context The war’s eruption in April 2023 follows a military coup in October 2021 and a long struggle for democracy through the popular revolution which began in 2018. What role have external powers, including the British government, played in this crisis?
12.45 – 1.30	Break for lunch
1.30 – 2.45	Workshops
	Safe passage now – refugees and migrants welcome  Reports on the campaign for safe and legal routes for those fleeing war in Sudan including refugees and those seeking temporary protection. Building support for the parliamentary petition calling for a Family Visa Scheme for Sudan	Health services on the frontline The health system is under attack from both generals while the war is having a devastating physical and psychological impact. What can we learn from emergency organising by resistance committees and unions to provide health care and support health infrastructure?	Education and cultural heritage under fire What has been the effect of the war on education (universities and schools) and how have cultural heritage institutions been impacted? Educators and cultural heritage sector workers share their perspectives.
2.45 – 3pm	Break
3 pm – 4.30pm	Final plenary: Organising against war, building anti-racist solidarity How can Sudanese activists work with trade unions and the anti-racist and refugee solidarity movements in Britain to build a stronger solidarity campaign?

Supported with donations from UCU, PCS, ASLEF , MENA Solidarity, UCU London Region, Portsmouth City UNISON branch.

We thank the National Education Union (NEU) for the use of conference facilities at Hamilton House.

We thank Unite Community Portsmouth and District Branch, Stand Up To Racism, University of Khartoum Alumni Association in UK and Ireland, Sudanese Engineers Union in UK and Ireland, Sudanese Lawyers Democratic Front, Sudanese Journalist Forum in UK, Sudan Doctors Union – UK, Sudan Uprising Support Group (Edinburgh/ Glasgow), Alliance of Demand-Based Campaigns (TAM), Sudanese Teachers Committee for their help in publicising the event to their members.