What now? Revolution, feminist activism and the violence of Sudan’s war

The revolutionary project in Sudan is one of the most significant movements 
for change in the world today. Sudanese women and girls form the backbone of 
the December revolution. In the midst of the ongoing devastation of war, they 
have organized for ‘feminist peace’ and within the mutual aid networks that 
provide care to communities in the face of violence, repression, and trauma.
In this panel, we discuss women and girls’ roles in the popular uprising, the 
evolution of the revolutionary project in Sudan, and the impact of the expansion 
of conflict on this project. What does a feminist approach to peace in Sudan 
entail? What challenges do Sudanese women activists face in effecting change, 
especially women and girls who face intersecting oppressions? How does 
the backlash against women, their presence, representation and political 
articulations at certain moments of the December Revolution reveal about 

The panel discussion starts with a showing of the short documentary “Matlooga” 
by Samah Khallafallah, featuring an unseen Samah and the feminist activist 
Weam Shawky.

Panelists: 
Sara Abbas, Open Society Foundation. 
Reem Abbas, Sudanese journalist, activist, and researcher.
Samah Khallafallah, University of Bayreuth. 
Raga Makawi, Sudanese editor, activist, and researcher.
Liv Tønnessen, CMI.
Chair: Mari Norbakk, CMI.