News & Updates
Check out the latest from Sudan and our movement
Sudan Coup: How To Help
The military has seized power in Sudan. Learn more and discover ways to help.
Friends and supporters,
As we enter what is expected to be a chaotic weekend in Sudan, I wanted to provide a quick update on this week's events.
Early on the morning of October 25, Sudan’s security forces executed a coup. This illegal action came less than a month before military generals were to hand over power to civilian leaders, which would have been a major step forward in Sudan’s slow transition to democracy.
This new military junta is made up of holdovers from the previous Bashir regime, which was overthrown during Sudan’s peaceful 2019 revolution. Army General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (aka Hemeti) are now in charge in Khartoum. They have issued a state of emergency, placed Prime Minister Hamdok under house arrest, and violently detained many civilian officials and leading pro-democracy activists.
Pro-democracy demonstrators were in the streets almost immediately. Their numbers have swelled from tens of thousands to well over one million people. Large numbers of general troops and RSF paramilitaries have deployed in Khartoum and other cities. They are firing live ammunition into crowds, beating unarmed and peaceful protesters, and hunting door-to-door for community organizers to arrest and torture.
What Happens Now?
It’s too early to tell if this coup will be successful. Burhan and Hemeti are only marginally in control, a fact made evident by swift international backlash and the potentially explosive situation they created that now sits outside their military headquarters.
International condemnation came quickly, with many governments and world bodies halting economic assistance and refusing to recognize the new regime. Some Sudanese government ministries are ignoring orders from Burhan and Hemeti, a bold act of defiance.
Most notably, Sudan’s peaceful pro-democracy movement remains as powerful as it was in 2019. We expect to see some of the largest peaceful protests in Sudanese history this weekend. As youth and women organizers handed out flyers all week calling for mass demonstrations, activists have been erecting barricades throughout Khartoum in preparation for their showdown with Sudan’s hydra-headed monster of security forces.
The Sudanese people will almost certainly brave this latest, rapidly escalating threat. The anger we are seeing in the streets is palpable. The international community is backing their cause. For many, going back to life under the transitional government won’t be enough. One young demonstrator summed this moment up well when she shouted “we’re not going back to the days of Bashir.”
But even the Sudanese people know they are an unstoppable force crashing into what has often been an immovable object. In Sudan’s long-oppressed periphery lands, the dark clouds of injustice brought by the security forces still loom large. It is here that millions of Sudanese have already paid the ultimate price —where countless communities have been wiped off the face of the earth— and millions of survivors have been dismembered, raped, and made homeless. Their cries for freedom and justice are still being silenced.
Even the elite citizenry in Khartoum knows they are neither free nor safe, having themselves survived the terror of the June 3, 2019 massacre, a crime that still demands accountability. These realities are why that brave young woman —who certainly knows that the security forces will make her and other women like her their primary target— is willing to risk everything anyways. Revolution is the only choice she has.
How many more must die before Sudan is truly free? Even if the Sudanese people succeed —and I believe they will— the immediate path in front of them is one full of immense suffering. A dozen demonstrators have already been killed this week, and hundreds more wounded. When will it be enough?
Sudan’s revolutionaries are peaceful, even as they face a regime that has an insatiable appetite for blood. Perhaps this is why the youth and women who are leading in the streets seem so wise: they are not seeking to quench the appetite of the entrenched monster trying to devour them. They are uprooting and obliterating the foul beast altogether.
How You Can Help
Operation Broken Silence has been working alongside our Sudanese partners on the ground for a decade. Our mission has always been focused on the long run, which is why supporting Sudanese teachers in the Nuba Mountains region remains our top priority.
In times of urgent crisis like this, we often see sudden outbursts of mass violence and large population movements. That’s why we’re raising an emergency $10,000 for the 24 Sudanese teachers we support. This will help them continue their critical work through the end of the year, no matter what happens.
If you are not in a position to give from your wallet, would you consider giving your time? Use promo code SUDAN to register for our annual 5K for free and ask friends and family to donate through your fundraising page.
This global event is virtual from November 12-14, and there has never been a better time to run for Sudan. Your effort will help us reach our emergency $10,000 goal.
The past two years have often felt impossible. A major source of encouragement for me has been watching our Sudanese friends strive for a better future against the remnants of a genocidal regime, democratic backsliding worldwide, and a global pandemic.
The progress they have made is remarkable, and it is now in jeopardy. Let’s each play our small part in helping to give our Sudanese friends the best chance for real, lasting change.
Onward,
Mark C. Hackett
Executive Director
Coup In Sudan, Military Seizes Power
On Monday morning, Sudan’s military seized power. Here is what happened and some ways you can help.
Early this morning, the Sudanese military dissolved Sudan’s transitional government, arrested Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and other civilian officials, and attempted to shut off the country’s internet. An illegal state of emergency has been declared.
The whereabouts of Prime Minister Hamdok and his wife are unknown. Large numbers of army soldiers and Rapid Support Forces paramilitaries have entered Khartoum, and we have received reports of live ammunition being used against unarmed, peaceful protesters. Civic organizers and neighborhood resistance committees across Sudan are calling for people to take to the streets in peaceful protest.
This is a coup. Once again, the Sudanese people find themselves on a collision course with the hydra-headed monster that is Sudan’s heavily-armed security forces.
The threat of mass violence against unarmed civilians cannot be understated. This is a rapidly deteriorating situation with potentially explosive consequences. The last time the military seized power in 2019, their deplorable actions gave way to a horrifying massacre of unarmed civilians.
This military coup comes a mere three days after the largest peaceful protests in favor of civilian rule since 2019 . The Sudanese people are speaking: this is not what they want.
Sudan’s transition to democracy, peace, and justice is on life support. These next few weeks are critical to staving off disaster. We’ll be keeping you updated during this time period, but we also can’t wait to act.
How You Can Help
Operation Broken Silence has been working alongside our Sudanese partners on the ground for a decade. Our mission has always been focused on the long run, which is why supporting Sudanese teachers in the Nuba Mountains region remains our top priority.
In times of urgent crisis like this, we often see sudden outbursts of mass violence, large population movements, and soaring needs. We need to send an extra $10,000 to the 24 Sudanese teachers we support ASAP so that they can continue their critical work through the end of the year, no matter what happens. The fastest and easiest way to help us reach our emergency $10,000 goal is to give online right now.
We are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in the United States. Your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Here are two additional ways you can help.
Give crypto.
We believe crypto can change the world because we’ve already seen crypto change lives in Sudan. Whether you are one of our current cryptocurrency donors or new to our mission, donating some of what you HODL is a preferred giving method.
Donating crypto means you can end up paying no capital gains taxes on appreciated crypto, get a fair market value deduction, and the teachers receive an even larger donation than if you sold your crypto, paid taxes, and then donated fiat.
An important note: we are unable to refund crypto donations at this time. We’ve made donating crypto to our mission super easy through this form, but it’s on you to give the correct amount.
Complete the short form to give or learn more here.
Fundraise through Eden’s Run 5K.
If you aren’t in a position to make a donation, you can register for our annual 5K for free and ask friends and family to donate through your fundraising page. This global event is virtual. You can run from wherever you are or just sign up to fundraise and skip running.
Every penny counts right now. Use promo code SUDAN to register for free and claim your fundraising page.
The past two years have often felt impossible. A major source of encouragement for me has been watching our Sudanese friends strive for a better future against the remnants of a genocidal regime, democratic backsliding worldwide, and a global pandemic.
The progress they have made against all odds is remarkable, and it is now in jeopardy. Let’s be sure that we each play our small part in helping to give our Sudanese friends the best chance for continued progress. I just gave. Will you join me?
Onward,
Mark C. Hackett
Executive Director
Operation Broken Silence
Mass protests in Sudan as democratic transition in peril
Hundreds of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators poured into the streets of Khartoum and other major cities on Thursday.
Hundreds of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators poured into the streets of Khartoum and other major cities on Thursday, demanding full civilian rule in the face of a looming military takeover of Sudan’s fragile transitional government.
The protests come as military and civilian authorities are locked in an intense power struggle over Sudan’s uncertain future. Over the past several weeks, a failed coup attempt, bitter accusations, and a worsening security atmosphere have threatened to give way to mass violence against civilians in major population centers by the security forces.
Former dictator Omar al-Bashir at a hearing on corruption charges. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah. Licensed via Adobe.
Background
Sudan’s peaceful revolution in 2019 swept from power several key elements of the Bashir regime, including indicted war criminals, corrupt politicians, and the authoritarian Islamist faction that oversaw multiple genocides and civil wars that tore the country apart and made Sudan a safe haven for international terrorists.
Shortly after a period of chaos that gave way to the June 3 Khartoum massacre, a transitional government was formed that promised to move Sudan toward democratic rule. This government includes new civilian leaders and surviving military and paramilitary commanders from the Bashir era.
This was a hopeful moment to be sure; however, deep down, everyone has known that this transitional period was going to be fraught with risk. Those risks now seem to be coming to a head all at once: entitled generals hellbent on protecting their kleptocracy, civilian leaders frustrated with the military’s intransigence, a shattered economy being strangled by surviving regime elements, and Sudan’s long-oppressed periphery regions running out of patience.
Sudanese protestors in Khartoum. AP Photo/Hussein Malla. Licensed via AP.
The Current Crisis
The Sudanese army and its fragile alliance of competing paramilitary groups is pushing to dissolve the civilian side of the government headed by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. The generals appear to be pulling out all the stops: dramatic shows of armed force, a multi-faceted disinformation campaign, and support for small pro-military protests, which are a mere fraction of the size of pro-civilian government demonstrations.
Pro-democracy leaders called for mass demonstrations in response to the military threat. On Thursday, business shut down as hundreds of thousands of people poured into the streets of Khartoum, where they were met with heavy tear gas, minimal gunfire, and a large security presence. The demonstrators chanted anti-military slogans, waved Sudanese flags, and demanded a full-blown civilian government.
If crowd estimates are accurate, Thursday marked the largest pro-democracy demonstrations since the transitional government was formed. The Sudanese Professionals Association —the primary organizing force behind the peaceful 2019 revolution— released a statement saying "There is no retreat from the streets until the handover of power."
At the moment, it appears that military leaders may have overplayed their hand. The sheer size of Thursday’s demonstrations show that the backbone of Sudan’s revolution —the ability to organize and take control of the streets— is still very much alive and well. And despite Sudan’s struggling economy and slowing social progress, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok remains widely popular. The seriousness of this moment is showing that a large majority of the Sudanese people remain committed to securing a democratic future.
What Comes Next & International Efforts
Pro-civilian government demonstrations are likely to continue until the military can honestly show that it is no longer trying to create the conditions to seize power or undermine progress. While it is encouraging to see so many of the Sudanese people once again rise up and demand a better future, we are also deeply concerned for the safety of peaceful protestors.
Rapid Support Forces paramilitary soldiers in Khartoum. REUTERS/Umit Bektas. Licensed via Adobe.
The military side of the transitional government has a long history of brutalizing and murdering Sudanese who are exercising their basic rights. This is particularly true of Bashir-era paramilitary outfits such as the Rapid Support Forces, the group that was largely responsible for the June 6, 2019 massacre in Khartoum. Any large-scale deployment of paramilitary or regular army forces in Sudan against protestors should be seen as a warning sign of planned atrocities.
This rapidly deteriorating situation seems to have set off alarm bells in various parts of the U.S. government. The U.S. embassy in Khartoum issued a call for demonstrators to remain peaceful and is throwing full support to Sudan’s transition to democracy. The State Department is dispatching U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman to Khartoum. Feltman is set to arrive in Khartoum on Friday with both a hopeful message and a warning, saying yesterday:
“If the transition is interrupted, if one side or the other in this [civilian-military] partnership tries to prevail, then the US support for all of these issues, including debt relief, will be in question. My trip will just reinforce the strong US support for the Sudanese transition, but also make it clear that our continued support depends on that transition moving forward. We want to see what we can do to support the forward momentum, the forward progress.”
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee also threw Congressional support to civilian leaders and the Sudanese people, issuing a statement citing American support to the democratic cause and a call for the international community to “reign in the malign forces seeking to undermine the country's transition.”
As the situation in Sudan remains tense, we must not forget that the people who most need Sudan’s revolution to succeed live far away from Khartoum, in the country’s still oppressed hinterlands.
Operation Broken Silence is still the only nonprofit in the world funding community-led education efforts in Yida Refugee Camp. Yida is home to many people who fled the war in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan years ago. The majority of people living here are children.
Without the Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary Schools that we support in Yida, the entire education system would collapse. You can help Nuba teachers raise up the next generation of Sudanese leaders by pitching in what you can.
Operation Broken Silence is building a global movement to empower the Sudanese people through innovative programs as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.
Letter To Biden Administration Calling For Senior Level Engagement In Sudan
Operation Broken Silence has joined 120+ NGOs, faith groups, and experts and scholars in calling on the Biden Administration to appointment an ambassador or special envoy to Sudan.
With the security and political situation in Sudan changing daily, now is the time for President Biden to appoint an ambassador or special envoy to Sudan.
In 2019, elements of Sudan’s genocidal security forces joined protesters in overthrowing former President Omar al-Bashir and his National Congress Party. While this was a joyous moment, this uneasy alliance was always destined to be short-lived. The first warning shot of this reality came on June 6, 2019 —not even two months after Bashir was toppled— when the regime’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) massacred their way through the streets of Khartoum.
Despite those horrific atrocities, the protest movement reclaimed the streets and secured a partial victory with a transitional power arrangement between their civilian leaders and the begrudging heads of the security agencies.
Since then, Sudan’s attempted transition away from genocidal dictatorship to a fledgling democracy has ground to a near standstill. It has become clear just how much the agendas of the two sides differ. As civilian leaders seek serious, systemic change in how Sudan is governed, the security forces are determined not to lose their coveted power and the predatory economic systems that permit their survival.
To complicate the current situation, fractures exist in both the civilian and security coalitions, with the escalating tensions between the Sudanese army and paramilitary groups such as the RSF foreshadowing a civil war between the security agencies. And in Sudan’s still-oppressed hinterlands, armed opposition movements from the Bashir days remain deeply distrustful of Khartoum.
Recent events in Sudan are cause for even greater alarm. On September 21, the transitional government announced that it had suppressed a coup attempt. As military and civilian leaders traded accusations about why the coup attempt happened, the security forces suspended scheduled meetings with civilian leaders and withdrew security guards from civilian ministerial roles.
THE LETTER
Operation Broken Silence has joined 120+ NGOs, experts, and scholars in calling on the Biden Administration to appointment an ambassador or special envoy to Sudan.
Read the letter and see the full list of signatories.
Today, more than two years after Sudan’s peaceful revolution swept core elements of the Bashir regime from power, the United States still has no ambassador to Sudan.
This means that the United States is missing critical opportunities to support civilian officials, grassroots activists, and community and religious leaders who are pursuing a genuine transition to democracy. Without an ambassador or special envoy, the United States also stands to miss out on business development and comprehensive reform efforts that can help bring stability and peace to Sudan.
While we retain our belief that it is ultimately up to the Sudanese people to move their country forward, the United States can play an important supportive role. Greater U.S. diplomatic engagement now can help secure important progress tomorrow. We urge President Biden to take action by appointing an experienced diplomat to the role of ambassador or special envoy now.
Get Involved
Operation Broken Silence is the only nonprofit in the world funding community-led education efforts in Yida Refugee Camp. Without Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary Schools that we support there, the entire education system serving Sudanese refugees here would collapse.
Our 12th annual Eden’s Run 5K is coming up on November 12-14! We’re raising $20,000 for the 24 teachers and 1,400 students at these two special schools in Yida. With the support of compassionate runners and walkers, school supplies are being delivered, teachers are receiving paychecks, and more students are gaining access to the education they need to build a better Sudan. You can sign up from wherever you are!
Additional ways to support:
Make checks payable to Operation Broken Silence, write 5K 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.
Donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Give here.
Operation Broken Silence Named a “Best in Classy” Nonprofit
Today, we are excited to announce that Operation Broken Silence has been named a top nonprofit for achieving one of the best donor experiences.
Today, we are excited to announce that Operation Broken Silence has been named a Best in Classy nonprofit, celebrated for achieving one of the best donor experiences on the Classy giving platform.
Best in Classy recognizes fundraising excellence within the Classy nonprofit community, which includes over 6,000 of the world’s top nonprofits. This recognition showcases how we create supporter-centric campaigns that get our movement involved with our mission in Sudan.
Best Donor Experience
Operation Broken Silence was named a top nonprofit in the Best Donor Experience category for providing each supporter with the simplest and most fulfilling path to give.
Determined by a proprietary formula created by Classy’s data team, who measured key factors proven to lead to a positive donor experience, and with the insight of Classy’s internal experts, we were recognized as a top nonprofit leading the way in the Classy community.
Over the past decade, our team has believed that people around the world would help change makers in Sudan, but only if they were given the opportunity to do so. A key part of our mission has been to provide that opportunity in a compelling way. This recognition from Classy is another sign that our approach is working.
Additionally, our top-notch giving experiences help our supporters stay connected with our cause. Classy provides us the tools to make this happen on every campaign we present to our movement. Explore the Best in Classy list for more information.
COVID-19 has now been reported in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan. Mother of Mercy Hospital has two small isolation wards. There is no consistent supply of personal protection equipment, hand sanitizer, or simple soap. There are no ICU beds. The staff have made masks out spare cloth.
With the support of compassionate fundraisers and donors like you, supplies are being delivered, local nurses and midwives are being trained, and more people are receiving the healthcare they need.
Additional ways to support:
Make checks payable to Operation Broken Silence, write Hospital 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.
Donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Give here.
Eden's Run 5K: 2021 Toolkit
Everything you need to know and do before race day!
The 12th annual Eden's Run 5K is from November 12-14, 2021! This year's event is virtual again due to the pandemic. You can run from wherever you call home!
If you haven’t registered yet, let’s go ahead and knock that out right now.
Crush Your Goal
Every runner has to reach their $75 fundraising goal by November 14.
Let’s blow your fundraising goal out of the water in 15 minutes!
Download Your Runner Guide
We have a tailor-made guide just for you! Download the one you need below.
You started a team when you registered and need to recruit some runners!
You joined a team when you registered and need to be an awesome follower!
You registered on your own and are running solo on race weekend!
Social Tools
Get powerful social media resources to help you raise more money and recruit more runners to Eden’s Run 5K!
*If you use Venmo to accept donations, you are responsible for sending them to the OBS Venmo account. We’re @OperationBrokenSilence. We’ll manually credit to your fundraising page the Venmo donations you send us!
Merch Store
Because this year’s entrance fee and fundraising minimums are so low, we have a separate online store for those who want shirts, hoodies, leggings, and more!
Questions
Don’t hesitate to reach out! We’re here to help you succeed.
Onward,
Mark C. Hackett
Executive Director
Operation Broken Silence