Sudanese Women Leader Calls for Ending War Support and Ensuring Women’s Equal Participation in Peace Process
Addis Ababa /
Secretary-General of the National Women’s Alliance and Chairperson of the Women for Peace and Justice Platform,Ibtisam Al-Sheikh, called for an end to the financial and military support fueling the war in Sudan and urged the inclusion of women on an equal footing in all stages of the peace process. She emphasized that Sudanese women are bearing the heaviest burden of the ongoing conflict.
Speaking during the Quintet Mechanism meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Al-Sheikh said she was representing millions of Sudanese women affected by the war, noting that women in Sudan are being targeted disproportionately by the conflict.
“Women in Sudan are being targeted twice in this war: once by bullets and once by silence,” she said. She explained that women are subjected to violations and violence while also carrying the responsibility of supporting their families in the absence of men due to fighting or displacement.
In addition, they are caring for orphans and striving to sustain their communities despite immense loss and suffering.
Al-Sheikh criticized the exclusion of women from dialogue platforms and peace negotiations, stressing that Sudanese women are paying the highest price for the war and therefore have the right to be key partners in building peace.
She called on the Quintet Mechanism to prioritize helping the Sudanese people survive by ending the financial and military support that contributes to prolonging the conflict. According to her, addressing the root causes of the war is the true gateway to achieving a sustainable political settlement.
Regarding the peace process, she stressed that women constitute 50 percent of Sudanese society and therefore should enjoy no less than 50 percent representation in all stages of negotiations and decision-making related to the country’s future.
She further affirmed that Sudanese civil society organizations view addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis as a top priority and a fundamental pillar of any serious peace initiative, calling for the needs of civilians to be placed at the center of both national and international agendas.
Al-Sheikh also reiterated her rejection of any actions that threaten Sudan’s unity, emphasizing the importance of preserving the country’s territorial integrity and national institutions as guarantees of stability and cohesion.
She praised the Sudanese Armed Forces as a sovereign national institution responsible for protecting the nation, the constitution, and its borders. She underscored the need to maintain the military’s national character and keep it free from political polarization and partisan conflicts so that it can effectively and independently fulfill its responsibilities.
Concluding her remarks, Al-Sheikh stated that achieving sustainable peace in Sudan requires the genuine and meaningful participation of women, a strong response to the suffering of civilians, and concerted efforts to end the war and address its humanitarian and social consequences.