Sudan Forum under the motto "Unity for Peace".

At the invitation of Umbaja e.V., politicians from the German Bundestag, state parliament and local authorities as well as international guests discussed the current conflict in Sudan in Hanover on 31 January 2026.

This has triggered one of the largest humanitarian crises and displacements worldwide since April 2023. Together with numerous organisations that maintain contacts in the African country, the Ev.-luth. Mission in Lower Saxony (ELM) helped to organise this event. Tobias Schäfer-Sell, ELM's Malawi and Advocacy Officer, and Gabriele De Bona, ELM's Ethiopia and Gender International Officer, were part of the preparatory team.

"We must all work for peace," summed up Dr Bakry Eljack, spokesperson for Somoud (Civil Democratic Alliance for Revolutionary Forces). The current escalation was foreseeable. Structural political deficits in the multi-ethnic state of Sudan stretched back into the colonial past. With the exception of a brief period of peace, the military, Islamists and coup plotters have destroyed and worn down the country, its population and its culture.

Marina Peter, a Sudan expert and consultant for many years, stated in her presentation: "The destruction and brutality are beyond our imagination. Sexualised violence is being used as a weapon. The absolute contempt for human life and human rights by all warring parties is terrifying." Peter recalled the special responsibility of Germany, which was the first country to recognise Sudan in the 1950s and cultivated close cooperation, as well as the state partnership between Lower Saxony and Sudan in the 1980s.

Boris Mijatovic, MdB - Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, emphasised the economic causes of the war. In addition to oil and gold, agriculture was also an important factor: "Farmers must be able to sow crops again." In view of the catastrophic supply situation, the massive cuts to humanitarian aid and development cooperation in the federal budget were a huge mistake.

Martina Machulla, Member of Parliament for Lower Saxony CDU, also emphasised that international support and humanitarian aid for Sudan must be strengthened. However, the lack of public attention for Sudan also makes it difficult to provide funds.

Séverine Jean, Deputy Chairwoman of the SPD Hanover, pleaded in favour of cross-party resolutions and actions to raise awareness and campaign more strongly for peace in Sudan.

Maren Kaminski, Member of Parliament - Die Linke, criticised both arms exports and the German government's partnership with countries that are directly or indirectly considered supporters of warring parties. The rejection of the Supply Chain Act was also a major step backwards in terms of protecting human rights in conflict regions.

The call for perpetrators to be held accountable for their atrocities and crimes against humanity through the International Criminal Court received strong support. Germany could make a significant contribution to this. The people of Sudan want justice and the civilian population in Sudan and in the diaspora must also be recognised and involved as sovereigns of their country. People must unite for peace across all social boundaries, as the slogan "Unity in Peace" hopefully expresses.

Around 40 participants accepted the invitation to the one-day Sudan Forum at the Pavillon cultural centre in Hanover. The forum ended with a declaration of intent to establish an advocacy network in which migrants, civil society and church groups as well as politicians from Lower Saxony will campaign on behalf of the people of Sudan.

The next date has already been set: as part of the "Day of Remembrance for Flight and Expulsion", the Sudan conflict will be the focus of the ZeitZentrum Zivilcourage in Hanover on 22 June 2026 from 6-8 pm.

 

 

Background:

The organisers of the Sudan Forum want to raise awareness of a forgotten and overlooked global tragedy. Germany has an important role and responsibility at a political and civil society level to stand up for peace, democracy and human rights together with the people of Sudan and the Sudanese diaspora in Germany.