When Time Calls for Action: Society Ahead of the State
By: Mohamed Ghulamabi
With the massive displacement within Sudan caused by the war that broke out on April 15, 2023, the overwhelming number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) — five million from Gezira State alone — exceeded the capacities of the states they fled to, such as Gedaref, Kassala, Red Sea, River Nile, and Northern States. Meanwhile, official authorities failed completely to meet the needs of the displaced. During this time, grassroots initiatives emerged to fill the gap, exemplified by collective community efforts, such as takyas, a unique Sudanese response, which I will dedicate a separate article to discussing.
Among these efforts stood out the Gedaref for Salvation initiative, which played a significant role in supporting IDPs, especially after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) overran Sennar States capital, Singa. For many, Gedaref was the closest refuge.
Jafar Khidir, a member of the initiatives executive office, said:
"The news circulating on social media about the suffering of IDPs from Singa was truly heartbreaking, and the onset of the rainy season only worsened their plight. As a result, we decided to launch the Abu Rekham Mobile Kitchen to provide non-perishable, quick meals for displaced individuals stranded on treacherous roads.”
"We opened a donation channel for Sudanese people through bank accounts managed by the initiative’s financial supervisor. In our appeal, we stated that even a thousand Sudanese pounds, which may seem insignificant, could buy dates, peanuts, and biscuits to ease the hunger of a displaced person on the road. This led to substantial public support, including contributions from the Jawarih Group of the University of Khartoum’s Faculty of Medicine and even greater support from the Sudanese Doctors’ Association in Qatar. These efforts enabled us to operate the Abu Rekham Mobile Kitchen five times to assist IDPs."
The initiative collaborated with Abo Rekham Mosque and Hawata Kitchen. Alongside food, the mobile kitchen carried medicine for chronic patients, phone chargers to help IDPs communicate with their families, and sanitary pads for women on the final trip. In Gedaref city, the initiative also implemented the Kahateen project for orphaned children among the displaced, inspired by the Prophet Muhammad’s saying: “I and the one who cares for an orphan will be like this”. The project, funded by the Sudanese Doctors’ Association in Qatar, targeted IDP centers, including Faki Hussein Mosque in Thawra District, Republic North and South Schools, Ismail Khalil School, and April 6 School in Al-Inqaz neighborhood, providing each orphaned child with 20,000 Sudanese pounds.
In the area of social reconciliation, the Gedaref for Salvation initiative partnered with the Shurooq Cultural Forum to implement the Peace in the Forest project. The aim was to promote social peace and protect Elephant Forest from harmful agricultural encroachment. The initiative held a seminar titled “Restoring Elephant Forest and Building Social Peace” in Al-Rawashda Village, adjacent to the forest in Gedarefs central locality.
During the seminar, Adel Araki spoke about the fragility of the Sudanese state and its policies that have encouraged the destruction of forests and pastures. A member of the initiative noted that large-scale farmers encroach upon the forest with the complicity of the Forest Management Authority. Meanwhile, both the army and RSF have cut trees to produce charcoal.
The seminar emphasized the need to stop harmful agriculture in Elephant Forest, warning that such activities create conflict between farmers and pastoralists, threatening social cohesion. Key recommendations included closing the forest to prevent farming, redirecting grazing routes away from it, organizing protests to raise awareness among authorities, creating a specialized organization for environmental and forest protection with community participation, and replanting the forest with economically valuable trees such as Acacia seyal and gum arabic.
The Shurooq Cultural Forum in Gedaref implemented several projects, according to its secretary-general, Khalid Abdullah Osman. These projects focused on mending the social fabric and achieving peace. Among them was “The Week of the Weak”, featuring a play titled “The Bitter Freedom”, which aimed at restoring social harmony. It was performed at the Army Theatre in languages including Beja, Hausa, Masalit, and Arabic.
The Forum also launched the “Men Against Violence Against Women” project in collaboration with the SIHA Network (Horn of Africa Women’s Network), targeting gender-based violence in neighborhoods and villages across Gedaref State. Currently, the Forum, in partnership with Saferworld, is implementing two projects: “Peace for Life” and “Peace is a Priority”, alongside a third project documenting human rights violations in all twelve localities of Gedaref — an effort disrupted by the ongoing war. Additionally, the Forum partnered with PAX, the Women’s and Students’ Network in Gedaref, to implement the “Women in Front” project aimed at empowering women leaders.
The Forum also organized a significant workshop on conflict resolution, addressing tensions between the Nuba and Beni Amer communities.
From these grassroots initiatives, it is clear that society, through its community-led organizations, is far ahead of the state in addressing its wounds and taking decisive action when the time calls for it. “When time demands action, society steps up.”
