On Friday, 4 July 2025, MENA Solidarity successfully launched its new pamphlet, “Sudan’s Revolutionary and Popular Movements: A Research Report”, at the Marxism Festival. The session, held in a packed room with over 110 attendees, brought together activists, socialists, trade unionists, and Sudanese revolutionaries, reflecting the growing interest in Sudan’s ongoing revolutionary struggle. The meeting was chaired by human rights lawyer and activist Hussein Said, who introduced the authors of the pamphlet: Rania Obead (activist and MENA Solidarity Editorial Board member), Khalid Sidahmed (trade unionist and MENA Solidarity Editorial Board member), and Muzan Alneel (Socialist researcher and writer from Sudan), who joined the session online from abroad.

Key Contributions:

State, Class, and Armed Power

Rania Obead began the launch by tackling the question of the state and its armed bodies. She outlined how the Sudanese state has never been neutral, but rather serves as an instrument for resource extraction and class domination. Rania spoke about the state’s roots in the post-independence period, its alliance with military and militia forces such as the Rapid Support Forces (Janjaweed), and the ongoing looting of Sudan’s gold wealth even in the midst of war. Her analysis painted a picture of a revolution half-won—one that confronted the state but left its economic base and armed power intact.

Revolution and Counter-Revolution

Khalid Sidahmed focused on the dynamics of revolution and counter-revolution. He analysed the Sudanese revolution as a class struggle rooted in deep economic inequality, with resistance emerging from the grassroots in response to neoliberalism, military rule, and repression. Khalid also unpacked the internal contradictions of the revolution and the role of imperialist powers—such as the Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Western governments—in sustaining the counter-revolution. Despite this, he stressed that revolutionary resistance continues through neighbourhood resistance committees, independent unions, and civil society initiatives.

Permanent Revolution and Revolutionary Strategy

Muzan Alneel provided a sharp analysis of the theoretical and strategic questions facing the revolution today. Drawing on the concept of permanent revolution, she underscored the urgent need for revolutionary organisation and political leadership that breaks from reformist frameworks. Alneel also addressed the dangerous trajectory of Sudan’s normalisation with the Zionist occupation, making a powerful case for linking the struggle in Sudan with the broader anti-imperialist fight, particularly solidarity with Palestine. She concluded by reflecting on the prospects for revolution in Sudan today.

Audience Engagement:

The session concluded with an engaged Q&A and open discussion. Participants raised questions about building international solidarity, the nature and role of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, and the current state of Sudanese trade unions.

There were powerful contributions from the floor—including reflections on the lessons of past revolutions, the role of British trade unions such as the National Education Union (NEU), University and College Union (UCU), and Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) in supporting the Sudanese struggle, and the central importance of a revolutionary party and permanent revolution for securing victory.

Before closing the meeting, Khalid Sidahmed announced that MENA Solidarity will be holding its annual Sudan Solidarity Conference around the time of the military coup on October 25, 2019. This conference typically brings together activists, trade unionists, and organisations from both Sudan and Britain (as highlighted in our 2022, 2023, 2024 conferences, for example). Details of the 2025 conference will be announced once finalised, and attendees were encouraged to stay connected and help mobilise for the event.

This event was not only a successful pamphlet launch but a vital space for deepening international solidarity with the Sudanese people’s fight for freedom, peace, and justice.

Photos and videos from the event are credited to David Gilchrist.

Take action:

• Access our Stop the War in Sudan toolkit and sign the postcard addressed to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging the British government to support the Sudanese people.
• Share this motion with your union branch and advocate for its adoption: Model Motion – Stand with Sudan: Stop the War, Support the People
• Read our analysis, “The Illusion of Choice: Why People Should Reject Both Sides of the War in Sudan”, for essential background on the warring factions and the revolutionary alternative.
• Download / order our newly released “Sudan’s Revolutionary and Popular Movements: a research report”. 
• Book your ticket for the new film “Sudan, remember us” at a screening near you.

Download resources:

• Sudan Update July 2025 – download the leaflet >>here
• ‘Sudan’s Militia War on the People’ Sudan Update April 2025 – download the leaflet >>here
• ‘Reject both sides in Sudan’s war’ Sudan Update February 2025 – download the leaflet >>here
• ‘Famine is the new war’ Sudan Update September 2024 – download the leaflet >>here
• ‘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