News & Updates
Check out the latest from Sudan and our movement
United States confirms first Ambassador to Sudan in 25 years
On July 14, 2022, the United States Senate confirmed John Godfrey as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Sudan.
Yesterday, the United States Senate confirmed John Godfrey as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Sudan. The confirmation could not come at a better time, with the military takeover in Sudan last year derailing the country’s fragile transition to democracy and all but ending prospects for real peace.
Ambassador 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 Ambassador Godfrey’s full statement to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee concerning his nomination:
Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member, distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today as the President’s nominee to be the first U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Sudan in 25 years, and thank you for your strong support for a democratic Sudan. I am grateful to President Biden and Secretary Blinken for the confidence they have placed in me. If confirmed, I look forward to working with this Committee to advance America’s interests in Sudan.
I am grateful to share this day with family, for whom public service has been important. My father’s career as an Air Force officer took my family overseas for much of my childhood, instilling appreciation for service to country and an abiding curiosity about the wider world. I want to thank my wonderful wife, Jennifer Hall Godfrey, a Senior Foreign Service Officer, for her love, partnership, and support during a rewarding but challenging pair of careers in which we have largely served at hardship and danger posts. I also want to commend our two sterling sons, Nathaniel and Jack, for their intrepid spirit and resilience, acknowledging that if I am confirmed our family will serve apart on two continents, as so many Foreign Service families do.
Much of my two decades of service has been in societies that were closed or in transition during challenging times. That necessitated engaging tough interlocutors on issues they often would have preferred to avoid and high-level negotiations on consequential issues. I am no stranger to Sudan. In pre-revolution Libya I worked on humanitarian and political issues related to Darfur; in the Counterterrorism Bureau I was closely involved in rescinding Sudan’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. In important ways, this nomination represents a continuation of those efforts. If confirmed, I will draw on that broad experience to advance U.S. interests in Sudan.
Sudan is at a moment of great peril: the military takeover on October 25 and lack of an agreement establishing the framework for a civilian-led transition worsened the country’s political, economic, and security crises. The devastating human toll of recent violence in Darfur is just one example of the dangers of the current political paralysis. Realizing the promise of Sudan’s democratic revolution is important for the Sudanese people, who have consistently and courageously demanded more human rights respecting, accountable and effective governance; for stability in the strategically important Red Sea region; and as a potential exemplar of the benefits that democracy brings. In a potent example for neighboring countries, the Sudanese people have made clear through four years of sustained activism that they are unwilling to have their demands for civilian rule and democracy ignored or coopted.
The immediate imperative is assisting Sudanese stakeholders in establishing a sustainable civilian-led transition and maintaining regional and international consensus on the way forward. The current process facilitated by the UN, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development affords the best foreseeable opportunity to establish the framework for an inclusive civilian- led transition, redefine the security services’ appropriate role, and advance elections, economic reforms, human rights, justice and accountability, and enduring peace, including in historically marginalized areas like Darfur and the Two Areas.
To facilitate that process, the military government must take steps to foster a climate conducive to political dialogue, including ending violence against protestors, lifting the State of Emergency, and releasing unjustly detained activists.
The rights of all individuals in Sudan, including members of minority groups, women, youth, and those in historically marginalized areas, must be protected and their voices heard in building a new Sudan. If confirmed, I will work with Sudanese and other partners in support of establishing a path to a credible, sustainable civilian-led democratic transition in Sudan.
Doing so is urgently important in light of Sudan’s economic and humanitarian crises. Economic reforms that would have led to debt relief and international support were paused due to the military takeover, sparking a fiscal crisis and hyperinflation. Rising prices and wheat shortages worsened by Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine mean the number of food-insecure Sudanese could double to 18 million by September. If confirmed, I will work with Sudanese and international partners to ensure that humanitarian needs are met and emphasize that resuming paused development assistance is predicated on a credible civilian- led democratic transition. As Secretary Blinken said, “We remain poised to use all tools at our disposal to support the Sudanese people in their pursuit of a democratic, human rights-respecting, and prosperous Sudan.”
If confirmed, I look forward to leading our Embassy in Khartoum. My highest priority will be ensuring the safety and security of our American and locally employed staff, and of Americans who live and work in Sudan.
Thank you again for the opportunity to appear here today. I look forward to your questions.
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, specifically in areas of education and healthcare.
After decades of war, roughly 7,000 people in a cluster of villages in the western Nuba Mountains of Sudan lack a clean water source. We’re working with one of our Sudanese partners to help change that, but we need you to help us cross the finish line.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
Make checks payable to Operation Broken Silence, write Water in the memo line, and mail to P.O. Box 770900 Memphis, TN, 38177-0900
Not ready to jump in yet? That’s okay! Sign up for our free email list.
Movement Spotlight: 2022 Governor's School
Some of the brightest high school students in Tennessee are propelling our mission forward.
For the last 6 years, Operation Broken Silence has been part of the nonprofit service day at Governor’s School for International Studies, hosted by the University of Memphis. Some of the brightest high school students from across Tennessee participate in this program to explore their interests in global issues, diplomacy, and human rights.
This year, a group of these incredible young leaders helped our staff create a new fundraising campaign that will bring clean water to over 7,000 people in a forgotten corner of the Nuba Mountains of Sudan. One of these students, Bianca Dishmon, says:
I think learning about Sudan was an interesting experience for me. I went into non-profit day knowing nothing about the country at all, so every bit of information that I learned was new and interesting.”
Bianca and her peers collaborated on creating language for multiple parts of the campaign. Then, they tested out their work by starting fundraising pages of their own, raising almost $1,000 in the first hour! Isabelle Mansour shared about her experience :
My main takeaway from helping to build the campaign was the teamwork it took to raise the money needed. My advice to people considering starting their own fundraising page is to thoroughly explain the problem because emotional language helps others sympathize with the cause.
By the end of the day, the students collectively raised over $3,000 for the water project! When we asked Bianca what she thought people might want to know about fundraising with Operation Broken Silence, she shared:
Going into it, I think it's important to be educated on the subject matter. When I was canvassing, people would ask about exactly what the cause was for, and I think without the education on the topic provided to us through Operation Broken Silence, I wouldn't have been able to articulate the importance of the organization. I also think that it's important to go in with a positive mindset. There will be encounters where people might not be willing to donate, and it's important to look at the bigger picture and continue canvassing despite the roadblocks.
GET INVOLVED
Operation Broken Silence is building a global movement to empower the Sudanese people through innovative programs as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. That means we need people just like you to join us in supporting our Sudanese partners.
As of the time of this post, we’re already halfway to our goal for the water project! Young leaders just like Bianca and Isabelle are bringing this campaign to life. You can join them by launching your own fundraising page or making a donation.
Additional ways to support:
Make checks payable to Operation Broken Silence, write Water in the memo line, and mail to P.O. Box 770900 Memphis, TN, 38177-0900
Not ready to jump in yet? That’s okay! Sign up for our free email list.
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.
The 10th Annual Soirée For Sudan
On May 6, our supporters celebrated ten years of Soirée For Sudan, an evening benefiting childhood education in Yida Refugee Camp.
On May 6, our supporters celebrated ten years of Soirée For Sudan, an evening benefiting childhood education in Yida Refugee Camp. This was our first in-person event since we were forced to cancel the 2020 soirée at the last minute due to COVID-19. Thank you to all of you who showed up!
The evening was made possible by a few talented and dedicated people we want to highlight. Zack Jennings designed and served the Sudan-themed cocktails for the evening. El Mero Taco brought the tasty eats. And Laramie Renae with Wandering Creative captured the evening on camera.
Our staff would also like to thank Sarah Roberts, Stephen Hackett, and Taylor Austin for assisting with setup and breakdown.
DOWNLOAD PHOTOS
Hit the button below to download your photos, or find them on Facebook.
This soirée was quite a bit smaller than 2019. As we continue to rebuild following a difficult few years, we look forward to slowly growing Soirée For Sudan into something new and great with you —our dedicated supporters— to benefit more teachers and students in Yida Refugee Camp.
If you’d like to join us on this journey, we encourage you to sign up for our email list below. You can also make a donation to support changemakers in Sudan.
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.
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.