We, the undersigned, express our deepest solidarity with the people of Sudan, and commend their courage and determination expressed in the nationwide peaceful protests that started on 19 December 2018, not only against the rise in the prices of bread and basic necessities, legitimate causes that warrants protest, but against almost three decades of oppression and social, economic, and political exclusion at the hands of the current National Congress Party (NCP) regime in Sudan.  The most recent economic crisis is the tip of a mountain, with excessive militarization and military spending, corruption, inequalities, and discrimination at its foothill.  The regime in power has particularly been oppressive toward women and girls, and as such, it is no wonder that women and young people are at the forefront of the protests demanding democratization, respect for human rights and women’s rights, and economic reforms.

The current protests follow years of resistance not only in towns, but also in the historically marginalized areas of Sudan, especially the Blue Nile, Southern Kordofan, and Darfur. The government of Sudan has responded to former protests and other resistance with brutality that has forced hundreds of thousands of Sudanese out of their homes into main cities, neighboring countries, or into exile. We are concerned that the government has reportedly used excessive force, teargas, and live ammunition against protestors, which resulted in an unknown number of deaths. The government has also arrested and detained hundreds of protestors.

The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, and the UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, Aristide Nononsi, have urged the Government of Sudan to” release the detainees”, “take immediate measures to protect the right to life of the demonstrators”, and to “respond to the legitimate grievances of the Sudanese people.” We support these demands. We urge the  United Nations and the African Union, our governments, and the international community, to acknowledge the grievances and listen to the voices of the people of Sudan, and to support their quest for freedom, prosperity, and social and economic equality.