News & Updates
Check out the latest from Sudan and our movement
Sudan's Transitional Government And Nuba Leader Sign Deal For Peace Talks
On March 28, a breakthrough Declaration of Principles agreement was signed between Sudan’s transitional government and Nuba leaders.
On Sunday, March 28, a breakthrough Declaration of Principles agreement was signed between Sudan’s transitional government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), the country’s largest armed opposition force in the southern Nuba Mountains region of the country. You can see the full agreement here.
This news is a welcome announcement for Sudan’s move to democracy, which has slowed over the past several months due to COVID-19, regime paramilitaries breaching ceasefire agreements, and more. The agreement is a sign that some of the tensions between the new transitional government and Nuba leaders are beginning to be addressed in a more serious way. There is no real resolution to Sudan’s challenges without Nuba involvement and justice for the oppressed, mountainous region.
While the Declaration of Principles agreement covers quite a bit of ground (again, you can read it here), there are two key elements worth pulling forward that are exciting to see.
Taken to its logical conclusion, this agreement lays the groundwork for a significant reduction of Khartoum’s power.
Many Sudanese and outside observers have some differing views on Sudan’s future; however, most agree there is way too much power centralized in the country’s capitol.
While Khartoum’s centralization of power began well before the Bashir regime seized power in 1989, the consolidation significantly ramped up in the Bashir years. By the time South Sudan split from Sudan in 2011, Khartoum had turned most of the rest of the country into a prison colony that it raped and pillaged for the enrichment of Sudan’s political, religious, and military elite.
The Declaration of Principles agreement appears to aim a wrecking ball at this status quo. Here are two sections from the agreement that speak to that:
2-2: Emphasize the right of the peoples of the regions of Sudan to manage their affairs through decentralization or federalism.
2-5: Achieving justice in the distribution of power and wealth among all the peoples of the Sudanese regions to combat marginalization developmentally, culturally, taking into account the affirmative action of the war regions.
The SPLM-N and Nuba people have been holding out in hopes of separating religion from government. That now seems more likely to happen than ever before.
The Nuba people are one of the most oppressed people groups in Sudan, suffering for decades underneath brutal Islamic, military rule. The region is home to roughly 100 African tribal groups who collectively identify more broadly as Nuba. Christians and Muslims live largely in harmony in the Nuba Mountains.
When Sudan’s transitional government began forming after the fall of the Bashir regime, it became clear that a major, obvious sticking point for Sudan’s transition to democracy would be the interplay between religion and state. After 30 years of Khartoum violently trying to force sharia law on the Nuba people, secularism has strong appeal throughout this region especially.
The Declaration of Principles agreement speaks clearly in Section 2-3 to the need for separating religion and state :
The establishment of a civil, democratic, federal State in Sudan, wherein, the freedom of religion, the freedom of belief and religious practices and worship shall be guaranteed to all Sudanese people by separating the identities of culture, region, ethnicity and religion from the State. No religion shall be imposed on anyone and the State shall not adopt any official religion. The State shall be impartial in terms of religious matters and matters of faith and conscience. The State shall guarantee and protect the freedom of religion and practices. These principles shall be enshrined in the constitution.
But don’t forget that these are just words on paper.
As important as this new agreement is, history cannot be ignored. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan represented the transitional government in this agreement. Burhan is a holdover from the Bashir era, a time in which the government broke just about every ceasefire and peace deal they ever signed.
But this does not mean that the agreement is destined to fail. Despite the long-standing differences between Khartoum and the Nuba Mountains, leaders on both sides seem to not want to return to full-blown war. Whether that desire can translate into a real peace agreement or not is yet to be seen. Time will tell.
As has been the case since Sudan’s peaceful revolution in 2019, we remain cautiously optimistic about the future. There’s certainly a lot that can go wrong; however, for the first time in a long time, there’s also a lot that can go right.
Get Involved
Change in Sudan doesn’t happen overnight. That’s why Operation Broken Silence supports long-term education and healthcare programs in the Nuba Mountains region.
Several years ago we created an endowment fund, a move that has already proven its value. When COVID-19 temporarily brought our fundraising to a screeching halt in the spring and summer of 2020, this special fund helped us keep our doors open and our Sudanese partners afloat.
Right now, a generous private donor is matching all gifts to our endowment, up to $25,000 total! You can help by making a donation or starting a campaign and asking your friends and family to give.
Additional ways to support:
Join The Renewal, our family of monthly givers
Make checks payable to Operation Broken Silence, write Endowment in the memo line, and mail to P.O. Box 770900 Memphis, TN, 38177-0900
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.
Meeting With Senator Bill Hagerty's Office Concerning The International Affairs Budget
Our Executive Director met with Senator Bill Hagerty’s office for a conversation on U.S. foreign policy and the International Affairs Budget.
On March 10, Operation Broken Silence’s Executive Director Mark Hackett met with staff from Senator Bill Hagerty's office and a number of other nonprofit professionals, military veterans, and business 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.
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.