This website aims to provide information on the situation in Sudan and to present academic work and reports on a range of issues related both to Sudan and to peacebuilding in general, as well as links to other resources. We invite contributions, information and reports from experts and practitioners in relevant fields. These can be sent to sudan@cmi.no

Recently added resources:

A comprehensive peace agreement was signed between the Sudan government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in January 2005. The research and monitoring programme, which was submitted by CMI in cooperation with the University of Khartoum, Al Ahfad University for Women and PRIO, addresses main challenges to peacebuilding in Sudan, with a particular focus on (a) the political economy of the transition, including institutional and governance issues, and (b) the role of third party engagement and issues related to the management and coordination of aid. The programme is multidisciplinary and combines macro level studies with research in selected localities and states. It covers basic research, capacity building (primarily in Sudan) and policy oriented needs.

Overview of CMI's researchers, projects and publications on Sudan

Nationality and citizenship questions in Sudan after the Southern Sudan referendum vote
Munzoul A.M. Assal (2011)
Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute (Sudan Report SR 2011: 1) 15 p.

Feminist interlegalities and gender justice in Sudan: The debate on CEDAW and Islam
Liv Tønnessen (2011)
in Religion and Human Rights: An International Journal vol. 6 no. 1, pp. 25-39

Challenges facing Sudan after referendum day 2011. Persistent and emerging conflict in the north-south borderline states
Abdalbasit Saeed (2010)
Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute (Sudan Report SR 2010: 1) 27 p.

Sudan peace agreements: Current challenges and future prospects
Abdel Ghaffar Mohamed Ahmad (2010)
Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI Working Paper SWP 2010: 1) 17 p.

The comprehensive peace agreement in the Sudan: Institutional developments and political trends in focus areas
Samson S. Wassara (2009)
Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute (Sudan Working Paper SWP 2009: 1) 21 p.

The impact of the international financial crisis on the economy of the Sudan
Medani M. Ahmed (2009)
Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute (Sudan Report SR 2009: 1) 30 p.

One Against All: The National Islamic Front (NIF) and Sudanese Sectarian and Secular Parties
Abdel Ghaffar M. Ahmed (2008)
Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute (SWP Working Paper SWP 2008: 6) 14 p.

Post-Conflict Peace-Building and Socio-Economic Integration Issues in Southwest Kordofan
Abdalbasit Saeed (2008)
Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute (Sudan Report SR 2008: 3) 48 p.

External Debts, Growth and Peace in the Sudan. Some Serious Challenges Facing the Country in the Post-Conflict Era
Medani Mohmed Ahmed (2008)
Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI Report SR 2008: 1) 76 p.

Can the Sudan Achieve the MDGs Given its Past and Present Expenditures Allocation Patterns?
Medani Mohmed Ahmed (2008)
Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute (Sudan Report SR 2008: 2)

Is it the Fault of NGOs Alone? Aid and Dependency in Eastern Sudan
Munzoul A. M. Assal (2008)
Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute (Sudan Working Paper SWP 2008: 5) 19 p.

Kan vi gjøre noe?
Gunnar M. Sørbø (2008)
Dagbladet 05.05.08

Communal Land Rights and Peace-Building in North Kordofan: Policy and Legislative Challenges
Mustafa Babiker (2008)
Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute (Sudan Working Paper SWP 2008: 3) 14 p.

Peace without Unity: The Dilemma of Reconciling Divergent Perspectives in Post-Conflict Sudan
Atta El-Battahani (2008)
Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute (Sudan Working Paper SWP 2008: 4) 18 p.

The Politics of Local Boundaries and Conflict in Sudan. The South Darfur Case
Yousif Takana (2008)
Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute (Sudan Working Paper SWP 2008: 2) 20 p.

Transforming Pastoralism: A Case Study of the Rufa'a al Hoi Ethnic Group in the Blue Nile State, Sudan
Abdel Ghaffar M. Ahmed (2008)
Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute (Sudan Working Paper SWP 2008: 1)

Minoriteter i «muslimske land»
Liv Tønnessen and Hilde Kjøstvedt (2007)
Bergens Tidende 30.06.2007

Mannen bak Darfur-konflikten
Liv Tønnessen (2006)
Ny Tid No. 19, 2006

Hassan al-Turabi: Maktsyk Agitator eller Kvinnevennlig Demokrat?
Liv Tønnessen (2006)
Morgenbladet 8-14 September 2006

Glemte Konflikter i Sudan
Liv Tønnessen og Inger Johanne Tjoflaat (2006)
Bergens Tidende 25. 07. 2006

Sudan: Prospects for Peace. The Role of the International Community
Gunnar M. Sørbø (2005)
in Forced Migration Review no. 24 November pp. 13-14

Islam and State in Moderation? Post-Islamism in Sudan (1989-2011)
Liv Tønnessen (2012)
Presented at: Sudan workshop, Chr. Michelsen Institutt (CMI), 16th and 17th of January 2012

Gendered Citizenship in Sudan: Competing Interpretations of Women's Civil Rights within the Family Laws among Northern and Southern Elites in Khartoum.
Liv Tønnessen (2007)
Presented at: Plural Legalities Workshop

Islamisme i Sudan
Liv Tønnessen (2006)
FN-Sambandet, Oslo

Staff and students from the following institutions are involved:

• Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI)
  http://www.cmi.no
• Ahfad University for Women, Omdurman
  http://www.ahfad.org
• University of Khartoum
  http://www.uofk.edu/?direction=ltr&lang=en
  
• University of Juba
  http://www.juba.edu.sd/
  
• El Nilein University
• University of Yambio
• University of Gedaref
• (PRIO) International Peace Research Institute, Oslo
  http://www.prio.no

Management

Gunnar Sørbø, Director of Chr. Michelsen Institute
Gunnar M. Sørbø is former Director of the Chr. Michelsen Institute, now senior researcher. Before joining CMI, he worked at the Institute of Social Anthropology at the University of Bergen and was the first director of its Centre for Development Studies. Sørbø first went to Sudan as a student in 1970 and has also been a Senior Lecturer at the University of Khartoum. His main research in Sudan has been on the large irrigated schemes (New Halfa,Gezira) and on agro-pastoralists in eastern Sudan and Bahr el Ghazal. Like Abdel Ghaffar, Sørbø has been active in several efforts aimed at promoting peace in Sudan as well as university and research cooperation with Sudan. He is the co-editor (with Abdel Ghaffar) of Management of the Crisis in the Sudan (1989) and Out of Conflict: From War to Peace in Africa (1997, with Peter Vale). Last year, he produced the report Peacebuilding: Lessons for Sudan, commissioned by the MFA. He has also i.a. led a CMI-PRIO evaluation of Norway's assistance to countries in conflict, evaluations of Danish and Irish assistance to promote democracy and human rights, as well as an evaluation of International Alert, a London-based NGO working with conflict management and resolution.

Abdel Ghaffar M. Ahmed, Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Khartoum
Abdel Ghaffar M. Ahmed is former Dean of the University of Juba, former Director of the Economic and Social Research Council in Sudan, former Director of the Development Studies and Research Centre and Professor of Social Anthropology, University of Khartoum, as well as former Executive Secretary of OSSREA. Currently, he holds an affiliated position as a Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Bergen (where he took his PhD in 1973) and will soon take up a new assignment as Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Khartoum. Since 1970, he has played a key role in the long-standing cooperation between the University of Khartoum and University of Bergen. He is the author and editor of several books and articles on Sudan and has also led or coordinated a number of initiatives in order to promote peace in Sudan. Abdel Ghaffar's main research has been in the Blue Nile/Southern Funj. abdelghaffarahmed@yahoo.com

Researchers

Mustafa Babiker, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the Institute of Development Research, University of Khartoum
Mustafa Babiker has served as a director of the Development Studies and Reserarch Institute, University of Khartoum. He has also been an OSSREA (Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa) visiting professor at the University of Addis Ababa. He studied for his PhD at the University of Hull, UK. His research interests include resource management (land and water) and focuses on the Dar Hamad and Gedarif areas in Kordofan and Eastern Sudan respectively. His major publications include "African Anthropologies: Histories, critiques, and practice (co-editor; London: CODESRIA and Zed Books, 2006), and "Resource alienation, militarization, and development: Case studies from East African drylands. Proceedings from the regional workshops on East African Drylands (editor, Addis Ababa, OSSREA, 2002).

Balghis Yousif Badri, Director of the Institute of Women, Gender and Development Studies, Ahfad University for Women
Balghis Yousif Badri is Professor of Sociology at the Ahfad University for Women. She is a former Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Khartoum. She received her PhD at the University of Hull, UK. She has published extensively, particularly on women's issues in the Sudan.

Atta el-Battahani, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Khartoum
Atta el-Battahani is former Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Khartoum. He is also affiliated with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) as programme manager for Sudan. He received his PhD from Sussex University, UK. El-Battahani's research focus covers the Nuba Mountains and Western Sudan. He has a wide range of publications on the themes conflict, conflict resolution mechanisms, and civil society. Most notable among his publications is his book "Nationalism and peasant politics in the Nuba Mountain region of Sudan" (published 2002, in Arabic). The book is based on his PhD dissertation with the same name, published in English in 1986. El-Battahani contributed with the chapter "Tribal peace conferences in Sudan: The role of the Joudiyya institution in Darfur, Western Sudan" which was part of the book "Transformation of resource conflicts: Approach and instruments" (2002).

Musa Adam Abdul-Jalil, Head of the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, University of Khartoum
Musa Adam Abdul-Jalil is Associate Professor at the Department of Social Anthropology, University of Khartoum. He studied for his PhD at the University of Edinburgh, UK. His research focuses on ethnicity and conflicts over natural resources, most specifically over land. His most recent publication is the co-edited volume "Development is key for peace and development in Darfur" - Khartoum/Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (in Arabic).

Leif O. Manger, Professor of Social Anthropology, University of Bergen

Endre Stiansen, Senior Researcher, the Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO)

El-Tayeb Hag Attiya, Director of the Peace Research Institute, University of Khartoum
El-Tayeb Hag Attiya is Associate Professor at the University of Khartoum. He has also served as Dean of the Library at the University of Khartoum.

Khalil Al-Madani, Dean, Faculty of Commerce, Economic and Social Studies, Al-Nilain University
Khalil Al-Madani is Associate Professor at the Al-Nilani University. He has taught for a number of years at the University of Khartoum as well as in Saudi Arabia. He received his PhD from the University of California, River Side, US. His research interests include ethnic integration in the Blue Nile area.

Abraham Matoc Dhal, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Juba

Idris Salim El-Hassan, Dean of Extra-Mural Studies Institute, University of Khartoum
Idris Salim El-Hassan has been Associate Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Khartoum, and OSSREA (Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa) Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Addis Ababa. He received his PhD at the University of Connecticut, US. His major specialization is cultural anthropology and sociology of religion, with a particular emphasis on Islam. Among his publications are "Religion in society: Numeiri and the Turuq" (Khartoum Uniersity Press 1993) and "Leisure activities in Saudi Arabia (co-authored, University of King Saud, 1987).

Munzoul Assal, Assistant Professor of Social Anthropology, University of Khartoum
Manzoul Assal is chairman of the OSSREA (Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa) Sudan chapter. He received his PhD from the University of Bergen, Norway. His research focuses on migration, refugee studies, IDPs, and development, with a geographical focus on Darfur, Eastern Sudan, Khartoum, and Norway. His recent publications include "Diaspora within and without Africa: Homogeneity, heterogeneity, variation" (with Leif Manger; The Nordic Africa Institute, Uppsala, 2006); "An annotated bibliography of social research on Darfur (Bergen, Bric, 2005); "Sticky labels or rich ambiguities: Diaspora and challenges of homemaking for Somalis and Sudanese in Norway (Bergen, Bric, 2004).

Liv Tønnessen

Øystein Rolandsen
Øystein Rolandsen holds a Cand. Philol. degree in History from the University of Oslo. He works as a researcher at the International Peace Research Institute in Oslo, where he is affiliated with the Centre for the Study of Civil War. He is a PhD candidate at the Institute of Archaeology, Conservation and Historical studies at the University of Oslo. Rolandsen's current research revolves around the militias, conflict and the civil war society in Sudan.

Awad Ahmed Suleiman
PhD Candidate

El-Tayeb Mahjoub M. Ahmed
PhD Candidate

Niveen El-Magboul
PhD Candidate

Onesimo Yabang Lo-Lujo
PhD Candidate

Master Students

Azza Mustafa Babiker

Rasha Abdel Hafeez Suleiman

Zahir Musa Abdal Kareem

Marilyn Ossome