News & Updates
Check out the latest from Sudan and our movement
Watch "The Spider-Man of Sudan" Film
An anonymous protester dressed as Spider-Man has been seen leaping from billboards and scaling buildings while dodging attacks by security forces.
Since October 2021, peaceful protesters in Khartoum have been attempting to restore Sudan’s path to democracy in the wake of a military coup. The protest movement continues to be fueled by public outrage, art and music, and a fierce network of neighborhood resistance committees. And the creativity doesn’t end there.
An anonymous protester dressed as Spider-Man has become a social media legend, leaping from billboards and scaling buildings while dodging attacks by security forces. But behind the scenes, his work with impoverished children —helping them know their worth and learn about their country's rich heritage— is bringing hope to the fight against a brutal regime.
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.
Letter To Biden Administration Calling For Targeted Sanctions On Sudan Coup Leaders
Operation Broken Silence has joined 100+ NGOs, faith groups, and experts and scholars in calling on the Biden Administration to initiate targeted sanctions on coup leaders in Sudan.
With the security crisis in Sudan worsening, Operation Broken Silence is joining 100+ NGOs and experts in calling on the Biden Administration to impose targeted sanctions on the military leaders of the illegal coup.
On October 25, 2021, Sudanese Generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, aka Hemeti, overthrew Sudan’s fragile transitional government. Both men were holdovers from the brutal Bashir regime, which was swept from power during the country’s peaceful 2019 revolution.
These military figures are connected to previous and ongoing human rights abuses and war crimes, with forces under their command carrying out genocidal attacks in Darfur, the Nuba Mountains, and Blue Nile regions and targeting peaceful protesters in major cities. It was Hemeti’s Rapid Support Forces who carried out the brutal June 2019 massacre in Khartoum. Since their coup in October 2021, their armed forces have killed scores of peaceful protesters and attacked, tortured, and force disappeared countless more.
There are zero signs that such abuses will end, with diplomatic efforts and ongoing peaceful protests across the country failing to change the dark course these men have put Sudan on. Such realities demand a more robust international response, including a minimum of targeted sanctions against the primary individuals responsible.
Such sanctions should not be viewed as a tool in a vacuum. They should be connected to rapidly evolving events on the ground and a broader overall strategy to help restore the democratic transition in Sudan.
THE LETTER
Operation Broken Silence has joined 100+ NGOs and experts in calling on the Biden Administration to impose targeted sanctions on Sudan’s coup leaders.
Read the letter and see the full list of signatories.
Letters like these can make a difference. Shortly before the October 2021 coup in Khartoum, Operation Broken Silence joined another letter calling on the Biden Administration to nominate an ambassador or appoint a special envoy to Sudan. At that point, more than two years after Sudan’s peaceful revolution swept core elements of the Bashir regime from power, the United States still had no consistent senior-level engagement in Sudan.
President Biden responded in January 2022 by nominating John Godfrey, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, to become Ambassador to Sudan. He has yet to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Get Involved
Operation Broken Silence is the only nonprofit in the world funding community-led education in Yida Refugee Camp, right outside of Sudan. Without the Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary Schools, the entire education system would collapse.
When we all do our small part, teachers like Chana are able to create the conditions for students to thrive.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
Start a fundraising campaign and ask friends and family to donate
Make checks payable to Operation Broken Silence and mail to P.O. Box 770900 Memphis, TN, 38177-0900
Donate from your DAF, gift stock, and discover other ways to give
Not ready to give yet? Sign up for our email list. It’s free!
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.
College Education Program Update - March 2022
Get the latest news from our education program benefiting the Nuba people of Sudan.
Over the past few years, Operation Broken Silence has sponsored Jargi Joseph Aloga as he pursued his college education. Jargi fled the war in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan in 2014. His story was featured in our 2015 documentary film Lost Generation of Sudan.
There is no quality university in the oppressed Nuba Mountains for students like Jargi. Due to the devastation of war, most students do not have the financial ability to travel abroad and pay school fees.
Jargi has been pursuing a degree in Public Administration and Management in Uganda. In February, Jargi completed his final coursework and graduated near the top of his class! He is now preparing to return to the Nuba Mountains. To his knowledge, Jargi is the first person from his community to achieve a higher education. He writes:
I want to extend my sincere appreciation and endless thanks to Operation Broken Silence and all of your supporters. I have seen many in my generation who were not able to achieve their academic goals because of the war. You never gave up on me. Your efforts will never go unacknowledged in my life. You did more than my family could, and I lack the golden words to show my full appreciation.
If it was not for Operation Broken Silence, I can't tell what my future would be. I am the only one in my entire sub-county holding these degrees. I can now use my knowledge to embark for positive changes in our society, alongside pragmatic values embedded in our marginalized peoples. I can now fight injustices without fear of limitations. I am committed to build the humanity of my people, which has been in despondency for too long.
Get Involved
Operation Broken Silence is one of the only organizations in the world bringing education to the Nuba people. The heart of our education efforts are the community-led Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary Schools in Yida Refugee Camp, right outside of Sudan.
24 Sudanese teachers oversee roughly 1,400 students a day at both of these incredible schools. You can help raise up the next generation of leaders here by joining our mission.
Make checks payable to Operation Broken Silence, write Education in the memo line, and mail to P.O. Box 770900 Memphis, TN, 38177-0900
Donate from your DAF, gift stock, and discover other ways to give.
About Nuba
The Nuba Mountains are home to roughly 100 African tribal groups who have lived here for over 2,000 years. The 1.3 million Christian, Muslim, and traditional Nuba people live mostly in harmony.
Extremist regime officials have long viewed the tolerant Nuba people as a threat to their iron-fisted rule. The Sudanese military and their paramilitary allies have committed two genocides in the region since the 1990s.
Dictator Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in a military coup in April 2019. A fledgling transitional government replaced him with the goal of moving the country toward civilian, democratic rule. Another military coup in November 2021 disrupted this progress. A fragile ceasefire is currently in place in the Nuba Mountains. Operation Broken Silence is one of the only nonprofits in the world working here. Learn more about our mission.
Mother of Mercy Hospital Update - March 2022
Get the latest news from the only referral hospital in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan.
Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan serves as the backbone of the healthcare system in this fragile region. The main referral facility in Gidel and the string of community clinics can serve 150,000+ patients a year. The growing local staff performs operations, battles cancer and preventable diseases, and brings new children into the world.
Mudwakil’s Story
A few times a year, the hospital’s medical director Dr. Tom Catena shares a story of one of their patients that left a lasting impact on the team:
I wish you could meet my patient Mudwakil in person. He’s a precious little boy who came to us in desperate need of surgery.
About a year ago, his mom Rusha noticed unusual swelling in his abdomen. Mudwakil was in a lot of pain, so Rusha took him north to be seen by a doctor in Khartoum. Mudwakil got surgery, and, for a little while, everything seemed fine. But then the symptoms came back, this time worse than before. After months of trying treatment at a local health clinic, Rusha finally made the difficult journey south to see us at the hospital. I took care of Rusha’s grandmother a while ago. She hoped we might be able to help her family again.
I immediately examined Mudwakil and diagnosed him with a recurrent hernia.
A hernia occurs when the intestine pushes through the tissue that holds it in place and bulges through the abdominal wall. It is treatable when surgery is done correctly. But if treatment is delayed or an unsuccessful surgery happens, hernias can be fatal.
Thankfully, Rusha brought Mudwakil here and I was able to reverse the damage of the first surgery he received. The operation was difficult, but because of the generous support of people like you, we had the proper tools, equipment, and trained staff to save this little boy’s life.
“He is doing much better now and I couldn’t be happier,” Rusha shared with me. “Both Mudwakil and Munda (my grandmother) have received excellent care here, and I thank you so much for your help.”
Recent News
It’s been a busy year at the hospital. The fragile ceasefire in the Nuba Mountains is allowing for better freedom of movement. People are even coming from as far away as Khartoum, Darfur, and the far eastern parts of Sudan, a testament to the quality of care and high reputation of the hospital’s staff.
The hospital’s lab technicians continue to run a PCR testing machine for COVID-19, with more cases beginning to show up in the region.
The dream of opening a training school nearby is finally taking shape. The team hopes to launch the school in July 2022, allowing for the training of local Sudanese nurses, midwives, and physician assistants locally. More healthcare workers are desperately needed in the Nuba region. This new facility will help alleviate the healthcare worker burden over time and provide more quality healthcare to the Nuba people.
Finally, Operation Broken Silence is managing funds for a multi-org project that is bringing new batteries, building materials and tools, and other resources to improve the power infrastructure at the hospital. These are items that can’t be sourced locally, but will have a major, positive impact on daily operations. They will also help with opening the clinical school and several other upcoming projects in the area.
Despite the coup in Khartoum last October, the situation in the Nuba Mountains remains relatively quiet. There is now potential for rapid progress that was long denied during the war. This is an exciting time for the hospital and people of Nuba, but they need additional support to continue moving forward.
Get Involved
Mother of Mercy Hospital is funded by private donors and fundraisers from around the world.
When we all do our small part, the staff, trainees, and patients at the hospital thrive.
The three most common ways to help are to make a one-time donation, sign up to give monthly, or start a fundraising page and ask friends and family to give.
Donate Crypto
Your crypto donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by U.S. law. Donating crypto is safe and fast with our widget:
Select a crypto and enter your gift amount.
Type in your info or choose to give anonymously.
Make your gift!
You can elect to receive an automatic tax receipt at the email address you provide. This donation confirmation will help you close the loop when calculating your taxes.
Crypto charitable donations are processed quickly and safely with The Giving Block and Gemini Trust Exchange. Please note that all crypto donations are nonrefundable.
Other Ways To Give
Make checks payable to Operation Broken Silence, write Hospital in the memo line, and mail to P.O. Box 770900 Memphis, TN, 38177-0900
Donate from your DAF, gift stock, and discover other ways to give.
About Nuba
The Nuba Mountains are home to roughly 100 African tribal groups who have lived here for over 2,000 years. The 1.3 million Christian, Muslim, and traditional Nuba people live mostly in harmony.
Sadly, the Nuba way of life has been in danger for decades. Extremist regime officials have long viewed the tolerant Nuba people as a threat to their iron-fisted rule. The Sudanese military and their paramilitary allies have committed two genocides in the region since the 1990s.
Dictator Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in a military coup in April 2019. A fledgling transitional government replaced him and is supposed to be moving the country toward civilian, democratic rule. A coup in November 2021 disrupted this progress. A fragile ceasefire continues to hold in the Nuba Mountains right now.
Operation Broken Silence focuses on the Nuba Mountains and nearby Yida Refugee Camp. We are one of the hospital’s financial partners. Your generous support is essential for the team at the hospital. Learn more about our mission here.
President Biden To Nominate Ambassador To Sudan
The pending nomination could not come at a better time, with a recent coup in Sudan derailing the country’s fragile transition to democracy.
Earlier today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate John Godfrey as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Sudan. The pending nomination could not come at a better time, with a recent coup in Sudan derailing the country’s fragile transition to democracy.
If nominated and confirmed, Mr. Godfrey will have a full plate at the U.S. embassy in Khartoum, which has not been led by an ambassador since 1997. Since the embassy reopened in 2002, a number of Chargé d'Affaires ad interim have overseen basic operations, with specially appointed presidential envoys shuttling around the region for higher-level engagement.
Here is a summary of Mr. Godfrey’s experience provided by the White House Press Office:
John T. Godfrey, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, is currently the Acting Counterterrorism Coordinator and the Acting Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in the Counterterrorism Bureau at the U.S. Department of State. Previously, he was the Principal Deputy Coordinator in the Counterterrorism Bureau and before that, the Bureau’s Deputy Coordinator for Regional and Multilateral Affairs. Godfrey has served as Acting Deputy Chief of Mission and Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of State.
Godfrey’s other assignments include serving as Arms Control Counselor to the U.S. Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna, as Deputy Political Counselor (Northern Affairs) at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, and as Political and Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, Libya. Earlier in his career, he served as Political and Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan and as a Political/Consular Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, Syria. Godfrey earned a Bachelor’s Degree at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master’s Degree in Middle East Studies at the University of Michigan. He speaks Arabic.
Operation Broken Silence is the only nonprofit in the world funding community-led education in Yida Refugee Camp, right outside of Sudan. Without the Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary Schools, the entire education system would collapse.
When we all do our small part, teachers in Yida like Chana are able to create the conditions for future leaders to thrive. Here are a few ways to support them:
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
Start a fundraising campaign and ask friends and family to donate
Make checks payable to Operation Broken Silence, write Education in the memo line, and mail to P.O. Box 770900 Memphis, TN, 38177-0900
Donate from your DAF, gift stock, and discover other ways to give.
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.
Cryptocurrency Funds Three Teachers In Yida Refugee Camp In 2022
Learn how our entrance into cryptocurrency fundraising is already having an impact in Sudan.
In December 2020, Operation Broken Silence began expanding our movement building efforts into cryptocurrency philanthropy. Since then and thanks to the generosity of our crypto donors, over $15,000 worth of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other tokens have been donated to our education program in Yida Refugee Camp, right outside of Sudan.
“Throughout 2021, we had many opportunities to talk to new and potential crypto donors” said Mark Hackett, Executive Director, Operation Broken Silence. “Several people were really generous with their time and helped us learn more about this unique, vibrant space.
Something that stood out to me in these conversations is that the crypto community loves underserved causes. We’re the only nonprofit in the world supporting community-led education in Yida. As far as causes go, we’re about as underserved as you can get.”
In 2021, crypto donors gave nearly $4,500 worth of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Shiba Inu to the teachers Operation Broken Silence supports in Yida. This fully funds 3 out of the 24 teachers that we support for all of 2022.
Although cryptocurrency philanthropy is relatively new, this early giving shows the tremendous impact that the crypto community can have on our internationally-funded, locally-led programming in Sudan.
“Last month, we did some quick math and learned that a single donated Bitcoin could essentially fund the Endure Primary School that we support in Yida for an entire year,” Hackett said. “My immediate thought was ‘how cool would it be if one of the schools we sponsor was funded entirely by crypto?’”
This is not a crazy proposition. According to our crypto giving partner The Giving Block, early data shows that the gift size from an average crypto donor is much, much higher than traditional donors. And with more people entering the crypto space every month, especially Millennials and Gen Z who represent the majority of our global movement, our team sees cryptocurrency philanthropy as a critical space to meet new donors looking to make a big impact in underserved communities like Yida.
For now though, three Sudanese teachers are able to do what they do best for an entire year, thanks to the generosity of our crypto donors. Our hope is that, by the end of 2022, even more teachers are being empowered, as we convert crypto into opportunity for them and their students.
Donate Crypto
Your crypto donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law, if you pay taxes in the U.S. Here are just a few examples of the impact crypto has in the lives of teachers and students in Yida:
1 BTC funds Endure Primary for 1 year
1 ETH supports 3 teachers for 1 year
1 LTC gives pencils to a classroom
Donating crypto is safe and fast:
Select a token and enter gift amount.
Type in your info, or choose to give anonymously.
Make your gift!
You can elect to receive an automatic tax receipt at the email address you provide. Crypto charitable donations are processed quickly and safely with The Giving Block and Gemini Trust Exchange. Please note that all crypto gifts are nonrefundable.
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.