Photo credit: Sadatu Futa and protest organisers

A global wave of solidarity surged on Saturday, June 1st, as thousands flooded the streets of major cities worldwide. London, Manchester, Cardiff, Oxford, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cologne, Toronto and beyond, bore witness to a unified call for justice and peace in Sudan. The demonstrators gathered to commemorate the horrific events of June 3rd 2019, when the Sudanese Army, Rapid Support militia, police forces, and the now-defunct Muslim Brotherhood regime’s militias unleashed a coordinated attack on peaceful revolutionaries across Sudan.  The day marked a dark chapter in Sudan’s history, as countless lives were lost, women and men were subjected to unspeakable violence, and the Nile River became a chilling burial ground.

The June 1st demonstrations, a powerful display of international solidarity drew in a diverse tapestry of activists, union members, and concerned citizens. They were organised by a coalition of Sudanese and non-Sudanese organisations including MENA Solidarity. United in their outrage and grief, they said no to the generals, demanded an end to the ongoing war and a transition to civilian rule, echoing the aspirations of the brave Sudanese people who continue to fight for a brighter future.

In London, Mohamed Khalifa from the Sudanese Initiative Against War expressed frustration with the international community: “The international community has failed to protect civilians, deliver humanitarian aid, bring an end to the wars and the warlords to justice“. Mark Sage, UNISON International Relations Officer, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the connections between the Sudanese and Palestinian struggles: “The same arms dealers who are profiting from the Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza are also profiting from the war in Sudan“.

Anne Alexander, a member of the University and College Union (UCU) representing MENA Solidarity, called on the crowd in London to: “Keep fighting for justice. People here in Britain stand with you. The trade union movement stands with you. We need to organise together for a better world against all of the generals, whether they are in Khartoum, whether they are in London or whether they’re in Washington or Tel Aviv“.

In Cardiff, Welsh Sudanese activist Marwah Ahmed reminded the crowd of the scale of the situation in Sudan: “Sudan has broken out into a war zone causing the loss of 100,000s more innocent lives. Millions of children have been out of school for over a year now, our hospitals have been bombed, our universities have been shut down if not completely destroyed along with the future of Sudanese students. It’s predicted that by September this year 2.5 million people will die from hunger“.

Hussein Said, a human rights lawyer and member of Cardiff For Sudan, told the crowds in Cardiff: “We are out here because Sudanese revolutionaries have told us to be out here. They have told us to uncover the truth about this government’s complicity in the Sudanese genocide we are seeing today“. He added about the war in Sudan: “This is not a civil war. It’s a genocide and a counter-revolutionary war“.

In Cologne, Hind Altaif from Al-Haj Youssef Neighbourhood Committees Gathering stated: “On this day, I salute the women of my country, who are the primary victims of this war waged literally on their backs. The recorded figures of violence against women during this war are astonishing: murder, rape, and forced marriage. They have been turned into forced sex workers, with slave markets set up for them, where they are kidnapped and sold while the world watches … and perhaps even buys. These markets are open and known to all“. She urged the world: “to turn your attention to Sudan, share its tragedy, talk to your friends and family, and donate even a small amount to help women there obtain basic necessities. Bring this forgotten war back into the spotlight so the world can acknowledge the humanitarian disaster unfolding in the country“.

These global protests represent a significant step in the ongoing fight for justice and peace in Sudan. By amplifying the voices of the oppressed, demanding accountability, and fostering international solidarity, these demonstrations have the potential to create a powerful force for change. The fight for a better future for Sudan continues, fuelled by the unwavering determination of those who refuse to back down until freedom, peace, and justice are achieved.

Read MENA Solidarity Statement on the 5th Anniversary of the 2019 Sudanese Massacres and the Ongoing War in Sudan

Make your voice heard by signing the postcard addressed to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, urging the British government to stand with Sudan. For more information and resources, access the toolkit available on the MENA Solidarity website: Stop the War in Sudan toolkit

Download resources:

• ‘Stopping Sudan’s hidden war’ Sudan Update March 2024 – download the leaflet >>here
• ‘Why is there a war in Sudan?’ Sudan Update May 2023 – download the leaflet >>here
• ‘Stop the war in Sudan’ Sudan Update April 2023 – download the leaflet >>here
• Stop the war in Sudan / Refugees welcome A4 poster – download >>here