News & Updates
Check out the latest from Sudan and our movement
Meeting With Senator Marsha Blackburn Concerning The International Affairs Budget
Our Executive Director met with Senator Marsha Blackburn for a conversation on U.S. foreign policy and the International Affairs Budget.
On March 3, Operation Broken Silence’s Executive Director Mark Hackett met with Senator Marsha Blackburn and a number of other nonprofit professionals, military veterans, and faith leaders from across Tennessee for a conversation on U.S. foreign policy and the International Affairs Budget.
Following a robust and engaging discussion, we requested that the Senator:
Support a strong, effective, fully-resourced International Affairs Budget in FY22.
Support a comprehensive emergency response to COVID-19 that includes both domestic and international resources to protect the health and economic recovery here at home.
Ensure Congress continues to champion effective, accountable, and results-driven international affairs programs that keep America safe, grow our economy, and promote our values.
This meeting was organized by the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, a nonpartisan organization uniting business, military, faith, and political leaders to strengthen U.S. investments in global development and diplomacy. Mark serves on USGLC’s Tennessee Advisory Committee.
About The International Affairs Budget
The International Affairs Budget supports American diplomacy and development initiatives, including funding for the State Department, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Peace Corps.
At a fraction of the cost of maintaining the US military, these non-military investments empower democracy, build free markets, combat violent extremism, fight poverty and health crises, and promote positive relationships with the United States.
Over the past four years, Congress overwhelmingly rejected the Trump Administration’s proposed cuts to the International Affairs Budget on a bipartisan basis, instead consistently providing increases to these critical resources.
The Biden Administration is expected to release its first budget request for FY22 this spring. President Biden has been vocal about his commitment to restoring U.S. leadership abroad and has pledged to increase investments in America’s development and diplomacy programs that advance our nation’s interests and values.
Operation Broken Silence is funded by private donors and institutions. Although we do not receive federal grants, we understand the tremendous value of a strong State Department and USAID. Both agencies are critical to achieving a peace and just future in Sudan.
GET INVOLVED
Sudan’s transition to a more peaceful, just, and secure future is at risk.
Operation Broken Silence is on the frontlines alongside of brave Sudanese change makers. They need your support. Here are a few ways you can help them.
We focus on the oppressed Nuba Mountains region and nearby Yida Refugee Camp. Operation Broken Silence is the only nonprofit in the world funding education efforts in Yida, supporting 24 Nuba teachers and over 1,300 students at the Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary Schools.
Also, don’t forget that a generous private donor is matching all gifts to our Endowment Fund, up to $25,000 total! If you would like to double your impact, get involved here.
About Us
Operation Broken Silence is building a global movement to empower the Sudanese people through innovative programs as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
We focus on empowering Sudanese change makers and their critical work. Learn more here.
Donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Give here.
Extra Details About Soirée For Sudan
Need additional details about Soirée For Sudan? Here they are!
The 9th annual Soirée For Sudan is May 5-9, 2021. Below, you can find additional details about our mission and the event.
THE CAUSE
Yida Refugee Camp is a place that should not exist. Tens of thousands of refugees live here after fleeing a brutal war that the Sudanese government launched on the Nuba Mountains region in 2011.
A fragile ceasefire has been in place in the Nuba Mountains since 2016. Mass protests swept across Sudan in 2019, ushering in a transitional government made up of surviving regime officials and new civilian leaders.
Despite these positive developments, little has changed in the Nuba Mountains and Yida Refugee Camp. Targeted violence by surviving regime paramilitaries continues. A peace agreement remains elusive. Many refugees still cannot return home.
The largest demographic in Yida is children under the age of 16.
Operation Broken Silence sponsors the high-performing Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary Schools in Yida Refugee Camp. We know that empowering local solutions — not swooping in and fixing problems on our own — is the only long-term answer to the immense challenges in Sudan. That’s why these two institutions are led entirely by Sudanese teachers.
Both schools make up the backbone of the fragile education system in Yida. Over the years, students at Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary have achieved the highest standardized testing scores in the Nuba region. Teachers from across the area have travelled to our two schools to learn how to improve their own classes.
We’ve delivered emergency supplies to other classrooms through Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary, and the teachers we support have pitched in their time at other schools as well. The positive impacts of the progress achieved every day here extend well beyond the walls of our classrooms.
Operation Broken Silence is still the only nonprofit in the world funding community-led education efforts in Yida. Without Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary, the entire education system here would collapse.
That’s why we have fought hard to grow these schools over the years. Today, we support 24 Nuba teachers who oversee roughly 1,300 students every day.
The wait list for students to get in is hundreds of names long. Roughly 50% of all students are female, a rare achievement for schools in Sudan. And there are certainly future community leaders in our classrooms.
In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic careened into our mission. As the world went into lockdown, we watched giving and fundraising screech to a halt overnight. Soirée For Sudan was postponed as well. And just like that, the teachers and students lost almost 60% of the funding they rely on.
The good news is that we worked hard to prepare for a comeback in 2021. Those preparations are now paying off. We’ve already restored almost 30% of the funding the schools lost. Your participation in Soirée For Sudan will help us continue closing the gap.
VIRTUAL DEMOS
Each demo has been professionally recorded and uploaded to Vimeo. We’ve made it incredibly easy to participate:
You do not need a Vimeo account to watch.
You’ll receive a link and password to a video each day.
Our team will email you an ingredient list for each demo the week before Soirée For Sudan. You can follow along as you watch the videos!
The recipes, instructions, and videos are yours to keep forever. Way better than a one-time Zoom thing, right?
SILENT AUCTION
The Silent Auction will be hosted online through our partner 32Auctions. This year’s auction includes top-notch art, a butcher box, and so much more! Here’s how it works:
We’ll send you a link to the Silent Auction on May 3 and reminders throughout event week.
You’ll be able to see photos, place competing bids, sign up for item alerts, and more.
Bidding runs through May 9. Once the Silent Auction closes, you’ll receive a notification if you won!
The Silent Auction is for our U.S. supporters only. If you win, we’ll be in touch the following week about delivering it to you.
T0-GO BRUNCH
We’re excited to partner with our good friends at Off The Square Catering for a Mother’s Day Brunch on May 9!
To-go brunch is for our Memphis supporters only and is available with select tickets. There is a vegan option available as well.
Additional details including menu items you can choose from are available during the ticketing process.
Have Questions?
We’re so grateful that you have chosen to join us for the 9th annual Soirée For Sudan. Please reach out to us at concierge@operationbrokensilence.org if you have any questions. We’ll be in touch soon!
Letter To Biden Administration Concerning International Criminal Court Sanctions
We’ve joined more than 70 non-governmental organizations, faith-based groups, and academic institutions call for the Biden Administration to repeal ICC sanctions.
THE LETTER
Operation Broken Silence has joined 70+ NGOs, faith-based groups, and academic institutions in calling on the Biden Administration to repeal sanctions on the International Criminal Court.
Read the letter and see the full list of signatories.
GET INVOLVED
Sudan’s transition to a more peaceful, just, and secure future is at risk.
Operation Broken Silence is on the frontlines alongside of brave Sudanese change makers. They need your support. Here are a few ways you can help them.
We focus on the oppressed Nuba Mountains region and nearby Yida Refugee Camp. Operation Broken Silence is the only nonprofit in the world funding education efforts in Yida, supporting 24 Nuba teachers and over 1,300 students at the Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary Schools.
Also, don’t forget that a generous private donor is matching all gifts to our Endowment Fund, up to $25,000 total! If you would like to double your impact, get involved here.
About Us
Operation Broken Silence is building a global movement to empower the Sudanese people through innovative programs as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
We focus on empowering Sudanese change makers and their critical work. Learn more here.
Donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Give here.
2021: A Year Of Rebuilding
Read a letter from our Executive Director about what lies ahead for the year.
2020 was a rough year, but we made it through.
Our supporters gave their way to a record end of year giving season. Coupled to The Renewal monthly giving family being at the largest size in our history, Operation Broken Silence is well-positioned to make a comeback.
But getting the programs we support in Sudan back to normal funding levels is going to take hard work and determination.
As I mentioned frequently throughout 2020, Operation Broken Silence’s support base was hit disproportionality hard by job losses and paycheck deductions. This has improved over the past few months, but we still have quite a few supporters forced to the sidelines by the economic crisis.
There are a number of other obstacles in our path. The pandemic will be with us for most of 2021, restraining our ability to have impactful, in-person events. Political instability here in the United States is the new normal for the foreseeable future. The dual threats of COVID-19 and war loom large over the Nuba Mountains and Yida Refugee Camp.
Still, when one of our supporters asked me last week how I feel about 2021, my answer was “Cautiously optimistic.”
Because of your generosity at the end of 2020, the worst appears to be behind us. There are encouraging signs outside of our control as well: the vaccination effort is ramping up and another round of US federal stimulus, if passed, will lead to a much shorter recovery period than the 2008 financial crisis.
In the coming months, Audrey and I will roll out several ways you can help us rebuild. Some actions will be familiar, such as joining our monthly giving family The Renewal. Others will answer your questions about beloved events like our annual gala, which is tentatively slated for May.
There is something we need your help with right now though.
A private donor is boosting our rebuilding efforts by generously matching all donations made to our Endowment Fund, up to $25,000 total.
You’ve already claimed $5,760 of this match. Great start! We’re hoping to secure the remaining match over the next several weeks. Can you pitch in $50 right now?
If you didn’t know we have an Endowment Fund, that’s entirely understandable! This isn’t something we talk about much. You can learn more about why this special fund is so important here.
Considering that there is still so much uncertainty in the world, growing our Endowment with this unique opportunity makes sense right now. The sooner we knock this out, the sooner we can move on to meeting the other rebuilding items on our agenda.
Thank you again for sticking with us through 2020. I’m excited for what lies ahead this year. We have our work cut out for us; but, together, I know we can meet the challenges that lie ahead. Take care.
Onward,
Mark C. Hackett
Executive Director
About Us
Operation Broken Silence is building a global movement to empower the Sudanese people through innovative programs as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
We focus on empowering Sudanese change makers and their critical work. Learn more here.
Donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Give here.
Letter To Biden Administration Concerning Sudan
125 human rights organizations and activists are urging President Biden to appoint an Ambassador and Special Presidential Envoy to Sudan.
THE LETTER
Operation Broken Silence has joined 125 human rights organizations and activists in urging President Biden to appoint an Ambassador and Special Presidential Envoy to Sudan.
Read the letter and see the full list of signatories.
GET INVOLVED
Sudan’s transition to a more peaceful, just, and secure future is at risk.
Operation Broken Silence is on the frontlines alongside of brave Sudanese change makers. They need your support. Here are a few ways you can help them.
We focus on the oppressed Nuba Mountains region and nearby Yida Refugee Camp. Operation Broken Silence is the only nonprofit in the world funding education efforts in Yida, supporting 24 Nuba teachers and over 1,300 students at the Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary Schools.
Also, don’t forget that a generous private donor is matching all gifts to our Endowment Fund, up to $25,000 total! If you would like to double your impact, get involved here.
About Us
Operation Broken Silence is building a global movement to empower the Sudanese people through innovative programs as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We focus on empowering Sudanese change makers and their critical work. Learn more here.
Donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Give here.
New Sudan Legislation Becomes Law
The Sudan Democratic Transition, Accountability, and Fiscal Transparency Act of 2020 is now federal law.
The United States Congress has overridden President Trump’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (HR 6395), which included the Sudan Democratic Transition, Accountability, and Fiscal Transparency Act of 2020 (HR 7682).
This is a positive step forward with regards to U.S. policy toward Sudan. You can read the full bill here, or check out the summary below.
What HR 7682 Does
The Sudan Democratic Transition, Accountability, and Fiscal Transparency Act of 2020 requires the Department of State to submit a strategy to Congress outlining U.S. support for a transition to civilian-led government in Sudan.
Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum, Sudan. Umit Bektas | Reuters | Adobe
It also authorizes certain measures to support and assist such a political transition. Specifically, the bill requires the State Department to submit a strategy that includes:
An articulation of specific U.S. objectives for the political transition in Sudan and a plan to achieve such objectives;
An assessment of reforms necessary to promote human rights, essential freedoms, and accountability, as well as a description of efforts to address such reforms;
An assessment of security sector reforms by the Sudanese government, such as demobilizing militias and fostering civilian control of the armed forces.
The bill also authorizes the President to provide certain support for the following:
Democratic governance, rule of law, human rights, and fundamental freedoms;
Programs to advance economic growth, private-sector productivity, and market-based solutions to development challenges;
Conflict mitigation strategies to support long-term peace, stability and oversight of Sudanese security and intelligence services; and
Accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
The bill requires the President to impose sanctions on individuals who the President determines are committing human rights abuses, exploiting natural resources, or undermining the political transition in Sudan.
Upon certification that Sudan has taken steps to improve fiscal transparency, the Department of the Treasury and the State Department must engage with international financial institutions to restructure, reschedule, or cancel the sovereign debt of Sudan.
During the transitional period in Sudan, Treasury may also support the use of certain funds to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak in Sudan.
How This Is Being Received In Sudan
As expected, this legislation is being received in mixed ways, especially inside of the transitional government.
The Sudanese military and their abusive paramilitary allies remain in control of large parts of the country’s economy, which is seen as a major barrier in Sudan’s slow crawl toward democracy and major reforms. Unsurprisingly, the Sudanese military establishment isn’t happy about the legislation, while many civilian leaders seem to be grateful for it. As Radio Dabanga notes:
The bill has caused controversy within the Sovereign Council as especially the role of the army in the country’s economic affairs will be challenged. Earlier this year, Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Chairman of the Sovereign Council, received widespread criticism with his defence of the role of the SAF in Sudan’s economy.
Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok took aim at the Sudanese military over its vast economic activities on Monday. He said these should be limited to the defence sector. “In today's world, there is no place to hide,” he said and explained that financial transparency and accountability of companies related to the government and the military is a basic and imperative requirement, as it is not possible to manage the resources of the Sudanese people without it.
Why This Bill Is Important
U.S. policy toward Sudan has always been a strange beast. Over the past few decades, Congress has routinely battered its way into the Executive Branch and forced various administrations to focus more on Sudan or adjust policy course.
While American policy toward Sudan has gone through plenty of ups and downs in this time period, it has hit an abysmally low point during the Trump Administration. During some of the most tense moments of Sudan’s 2019 revolution, the Trump Administration didn’t even have a policy on Sudan.
The President’s America First approach led to the United States being near dead-last in recognizing the seismic changes occurring in Sudan, and what it could mean for the American relationship with the Sudanese people.
This legislation is Congress getting out the battering ram again, despite the Trump Administration being on the off-ramp out of the White House. The incoming Biden Administration will most likely agree with the core tenants of the legislation and simply move forward in executing the policy.
In summary, this bill is important because Sudan policy has been grossly mismanaged the last few years. This is a positive course correction that better meets the realities of the situation on the ground in Sudan today.
get involved
Sudan’s transition to a more peaceful, just, and secure future is at risk.
Operation Broken Silence is on the frontlines alongside of our brave Sudanese partners.
We focus on the oppressed Nuba Mountains region and nearby Yida Refugee Camp. Operation Broken Silence is the only nonprofit in the world funding education efforts in Yida, supporting 24 Nuba teachers and over 1,300 students at the Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary Schools.
About Us
Operation Broken Silence is building a global movement to empower the Sudanese people through innovative programs as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We focus on empowering Sudanese change makers and their critical work. Learn more here.
Donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Give here.