CMI researchers contribute to public debate on the war in Sudan

As the war in Sudan intensifies, it remains largely absent from international headlines and policy discussions. Researchers at the Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI) are working to change that by offering critical insights into the conflict’s underlying causes, the global response, and Sudan’s long-standing political dynamics.

In a recent interview with Panorama Nyheter Research Professor Liv Tønnessen calls attention to Norway’s limited engagement and the broader lack of international focus on Sudan’s political realities. Read the interview in Panorama here. In Norwegian.

Tønnessen’s message is clear: the war is not forgotten, it is being ignored. She argues that the conflict in Sudan is not neglected due to geographical distance, but because of its proximity to powerful geopolitical interests, including those of regional actors like Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, who are deeply involved in the war while simultaneously positioning themselves as peace brokers. The conflict in Sudan, she contends, is not neglected due to geographical distance or lack of relevance, but rather because of its proximity to powerful geopolitical interests. Read the op-ed "Sudan er ikke glemt, men ignorert" by Liv Tønnessen here. 

Gunnar Sørbø, CMI Research Professor Emeritus, explores the role of global powers in shaping peace efforts, questioning the credibility of initiatives led by actors with vested interests in the conflict. Read the op-ed "Har fire stormakter nøkkelen til å stanse Sudan-krigen?" by Gunnar Sørbø here.

Meanwhile, Senior Researcher Heidi Mogstad examines how racism influences which humanitarian crises receive attention, and which do not. Read the op-ed "Sudan overses også på grunn av rasisme" by Heidi Mogstad here.

CMI has a long history of engagement in Sudan, built on more than 60 years of academic collaboration between researchers in Bergen and Sudanese institutions. Through the Sudan-Norway Academic Cooperation (SNAC) project, CMI continues to work together with Sudanese scholars and amplify Sudanese perspectives in international debates. The SNAC project is a partnership between Sudanese and Norwegian academic institutions, aiming to strengthen research capacity, promote inclusive policy dialogue, and support scholars at risk, particularly in the wake of the war that has forced many academics into exile

With severe strain on the higher education sector in Sudan and the displacement of scholars, SNAC has adapted by facilitating guest research stays, providing funding for research projects on Sudan, awarding several PhD at Risk Fellowships, and by co-launching initiatives such as the Sudan War Series, which features displaced Sudanese researchers writing analytically about their lived experiences and the future of Sudan.