International Day of Peace … and the Lost Hope in Sudan!!
“On the International Day of Peace, Sudan raises its voice from amid the ruins of a senseless war that has claimed the lives of millions and displaced tens of millions, making the call for peace more urgent than ever before. Peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of justice and dignity, and it must be a collective responsibility-restoring hope to children, women, men, and the elderly, and igniting the flame of the future every Sudanese deserves.”
By: Mohammed Abdallah
On the twenty-first of September each year, the world commemorates the International Day of Peace—an occasion to renew calls to end conflicts, promote tolerance and coexistence, and affirm that peace is not simply the absence of war, but the presence of justice and human dignity. Yet, while candles of hope are lit across the world, Sudan remains engulfed in the darkness of a brutal and senseless war, devouring everything in its path and casting its grim shadows upon millions of its people. From this wounded nation, the cry for peace is more urgent than ever.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been turned into a battlefield of senseless power struggles between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, leaving behind an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. The numbers speak for themselves: more than 150,000 lives lost, and nearly 13 million displaced—8.6 million inside Sudan and 4.1 million forced to flee to neighboring countries as refugees. These figures are not just statistics—they are harrowing human stories of families who lost everything, children robbed of their childhood, and women and men facing hunger, disease, and the constant fear that stalks them every moment.
The humanitarian situation inside Sudan is catastrophic by all measures. Civilians face acute shortages of food, medicine, and clean water, alongside the near-total collapse of the health sector. Most hospitals have closed or are out of service. Millions are on the brink of famine, and deaths from disease and malnutrition are rising sharply, particularly among children and the elderly. As for Sudanese abroad, many live in refugee camps under harsh conditions, struggling with both humanitarian hardships and the challenges of integration, while carrying the wounds of their homeland in their hearts, longing for the day they can safely return.
This bloodshed and destruction cannot continue. In the name of humanity, we urge the warring parties in Sudan to heed the voice of reason and conscience. They must recognize that the continuation of war will only bring further devastation and suffering, and that true victory can only be achieved through peace. We call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and for all sides to come to the negotiating table with seriousness and sincerity to reach a comprehensive political solution that ends this tragedy.
The aspirations of the Sudanese people for a democratic civilian transition, expressed in their glorious revolution, must be realized. True authority belongs to the people, and they must determine their own destiny away from the barrels of guns. Achieving peace and stability paves the way for building a democratic civilian state that safeguards the rights of all its citizens, ensures them a dignified life, and restores Sudan to its rightful place among nations.
In this context, we appeal to the international and regional community-including the African Union, the United Nations, and the Human Rights Council-to intensify their efforts and exert maximum pressure on the parties to the conflict. There must be genuine international will to end this war, provide unhindered humanitarian aid, and hold perpetrators of crimes and violations accountable. Coordination among the many initiatives is vital to ensuring effectiveness. Peace in Sudan is, and must remain, a collective responsibility.
On the International Day of Peace, we raise our voices for Sudan-for its children, its women, its men, and its elders, and for the future this great nation deserves. Let this day be a turning point—a true beginning of a journey towards peace, a journey that restores hope to Sudanese hearts and lights their path toward a better tomorrow, one built on security, stability, justice, and democracy.
Mohamed Abdallah
Civil Activist and Human Rights Defender
mohammedabdalluh2000@gmail.com
