News & Updates
Check out the latest from Sudan and our movement
The 11th annual Soirée For Sudan
On October 7, 2023, our supporters came together to celebrate teachers and students in Yida Refugee Camp.
On October 7, our supporters came together to celebrate teachers and students in Yida Refugee Camp. This marked the eleventh year of Soirée For Sudan. Thank you to all of you who showed up!
The evening was made possible by our sponsors: Silent Events, the Clandestine Underground, Madeline Rose Photos, Shelby Monteverde Fine Art, Whitney Winkler Art, the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee, Monogram Foods, and Novel Memphis.
We would also like to thank our promotional committee, event staff, and volunteers for working together to create such an intimate space!
Anya Schwartz, Tiffany Frizzell-Donnell, and Jackson Donnell served on our promotional committee.
Zack Jennings designed and served the Sudan and 1920s-themed cocktails for the evening.
Wandering Creative and Julian Harper captured the evening on camera.
Anya Schwartz, Stephen Hackett, Sara James, Taylor Austin, and Jacob Geyer assisted with setup and breakdown.
Download Photos
Hit the button below to download your photos, or find them and share on Facebook.
Stay Involved
The war in Sudan continues to cast a dark shadow over the work of our Sudanese partners. You can help them each and every month by joining our monthly giving family, The Renewal.
All of our Sudanese partners are struggling with rising costs. They need 100 of us to start giving monthly to help them continue their lifesaving work.
⚡️ Your first three monthly gifts will be matched by a private donor ⚡️
All members of The Renewal receive special perks, including a membership pin and welcome letter, discounted merch, and early access to new events and campaigns.
Members who give $35+ a month also receive free event tickets to our events! Learn more about the benefits of giving monthly.
The 14th annual Eden's Run 5K
See your photos from our annual run benefiting teachers and students in Sudan!
From October 28-30, our supporters celebrated fourteen years of Eden’s Run 5K, a virtual and in-person race bringing education to Sudan's next generation of leaders.
Runners across the United States took to neighborhoods, parks, and tracks throughout the weekend to complete their virtual 5Ks. Our supporters in Memphis, TN —where we are headquartered— gathered at Shelby Farms Park on Saturday, October 28 for an in-person run. It was a cloudy day, but the temperature was perfect!
Thank you to all of our runners for giving and fundraising! We set a goal of $7,500 that you shattered with $9,260 raised. Well done!
The run was made possible by our generous sponsors: Siskind Susser Immigration Lawyers, Buff City Soap, Hotworx (Edge District), Preservation Property Services, and Hive Bagel & Deli.
We would also like to thank our promotional committee, event staff, and volunteers for working together to make race weekend possible! Anya Schwartz, Tiffany Frizzell-Donnell, and Jackson Donnell served on our promotional committee. Jacob Geyer captured the event on camera. Anya Schwartz, Stephen Hackett, Sara James, Taylor Austin, Jacob Geyer, and Catherine Haag, Annabelle Haag, and Clara Haag made the in-person Memphis event happen. Thank you!
Download Photos
If you were at the Memphis run, use the button below to download your photos, or find them to share on Facebook.
Stay Involved
The war in Sudan continues to cast a dark shadow over the work of our Sudanese partners. You can help them each and every month by joining our monthly giving family, The Renewal.
All of our Sudanese partners are struggling with rising costs. They need 100 of us to start giving monthly to help them continue their lifesaving work.
⚡️ Your first three monthly gifts will be matched by a private donor ⚡️
All members of The Renewal receive special perks, including a membership pin and welcome letter, discounted merch, and early access to new events and campaigns.
Members who give $35+ a month also receive free event tickets to Eden’s Run 5K! Learn more about the benefits of giving monthly.
The world needs to wake up to the catastrophe unfolding in Sudan
By any objective standard, Sudan’s roughly 49 million citizens are facing a catastrophe that is as epic as it is tragic.
Cities bombed out and villages annihilated. Men, women and children tortured, raped and executed. Millions displaced from their homes. A nation at risk of being swallowed whole by heavily-armed soldiers.
By any objective standard, Sudan’s roughly 49 million citizens are facing a catastrophe that is as epic as it is tragic. The capitol city of Khartoum has been a brutal war zone for over five months. In western Darfur, a full blown genocide of ethnic minorities is underway by a paramilitary force that is evil incarnate. War has resumed in the Nuba Mountains. Fighting is creeping into new parts of the country every week.
And the world seems to have barely noticed.
25 million people, roughly half the population, are in need of humanitarian assistance. Famine already stalks the war-torn hinterlands, threatening 6.3 million lives in just the next few months. 4.2 million women and girls —a brave demographic who has long been the last line of defense in protecting human life— are staring down the barrel of gender-based violence. Almost 700,000 children with severe acute malnutrition are at risk of dying by the end of this year. These statistics are certainly undercounts and tick upward with each passing day.
The United Nations has only 27% of the funding needed to stave off the worst of spiraling humanitarian conditions, and that’s assuming aid can reach those most in need. Right now, it isn’t. As a nonprofit organization working in Sudan for more than 12 years, we usually receive a few dozen new requests for help during a given year. 2023 is far from over and we have already received over 300 cries for emergency support.
Will you join our campaign to help?
Our Sudanese partners are struggling, which you can learn more about below. They need 100 of us to start giving monthly to help them continue their lifesaving work.
⚡️ Your first three monthly gifts will be matched by a private donor ⚡️
Operation Broken Silence is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.
Can’t give monthly? Donate once or start a fundraising page and ask friends and family to give!
Does the world dithering on Sudan mean we must do the same?
There are many things world powers are not doing to save lives. We’ve covered this before (here, here and here) and will continue advocating for aggressive global action. But that is outside our control. Direct action is the most helpful approach.
There are three primary areas our Sudanese partners are working in to save and change lives for the better:
South Darfur - Escape support and relief
Nuba Mountains - General healthcare
Yida Refugee Camp (south of Nuba) - Childhood education
These efforts are as highly effective as they are massively underfunded. To provide just one example, our South Darfur partner needs an additional $65,000 through the end of the year to help people escape the Rapid Support Forces-backed genocide in Darfur and provide food and clothing to those most in need.
Photo: Tariq escaped the genocide in Darfur with the help of our Sudanese partner. Read his story.
Matched monthly giving plays a critical role in closing life-or-death gaps like these. It doesn’t take a lot of supporters to get the job done either; in fact, roughly 100 new monthly givers can meet the bulk of this need. But only if you join us instead of assuming others will meet these needs.
Your monthly giving means several hundred families and brave people such as Tariq will be saved from almost certain death. He says “My friends are grateful to those who helped us get out. We would be dead without them. Please tell people everywhere to give so we can help more people. We can still save many lives but it takes money to do it.”
Tariq is right. Vehicles need fuel and maintenance. Food and clothing has to be purchased. Critical supplies like these don’t just materialize on their own. Looking ahead though, scattered among these families are children and young people who will one day become community leaders, teachers and serve in many other roles that will help rebuild Sudan in a better direction, from the ground up.
In times like these it is easy to feel hopeless. But hopelessness is a choice. Hopelessness is choosing to glance at the big picture and cast judgement instead of seeing the faces of people who can change things. We have hope because we see countless faces like Tariq. We talk to these people. We know their hopes, dreams and challenges. As long as they remain committed to their country, there will be hope.
US sanctions paramilitary leaders in Sudan
The US Treasury and State Departments have issued new sanctions against leaders in the Rapid Support Forces.
The United States Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and State Department have imposed sanctions on top commanders in the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), correctly pointing out that “members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Darfur have committed atrocities and other abuses, inducing ethnically motivated killings, targeted abuses against human rights activists and defenders, conflict-related sexual violence, and looting and burning of communities.”
Sudan’s military regime disintegrated on April 15, 2023. The army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, the two primary factions in the regime, went to war with each for control of Sudan. Fighting has spread across the country, with millions of Sudanese caught in the crossfire and ethnic minorities facing famine, war crimes, and genocide.
The US government is specifically targeting Abdelrahim Dagalo, the RSF’s deputy commander and brother to top RSF commander Hemeti, as well as Abdul Rahman Juma, the RSF’s top general in West Darfur.
Abdelrahim is also being designated for being a foreign person who is or has been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the RSF, an entity that has, or whose members have, engaged in the targeting of women, children, or any other civilians through the commission of acts of violence (including killing, maiming, torture, or rape or other sexual violence), abduction, forced displacement, or attacks on schools, hospitals, religious sites, or locations where civilians are seeking refuge, or through conduct that would constitute a serious abuse or violation of human rights or a violation of international humanitarian law relating to the tenure of such leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors.
As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated person described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.
In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.
According to Secretary of State Antony Blinken:
The Department of State is imposing visa restrictions on RSF General and West Darfur Sector Commander, Abdul Rahman Juma, for his involvement in a gross violation of human rights. According to credible sources, on June 15, 2023, RSF forces led by General Juma kidnapped and killed the Governor of West Darfur, Khamis Abbakar, and his brother. This act came just hours after Abbakar’s public statements condemning the actions of the RSF.
The United States continues to call on all external actors to avoid fueling the conflict. We will not hesitate to use the tools at our disposal to hinder the ability of the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to further prolong this war, and we will also use such tools to deter any actor from undermining the Sudanese people’s aspiration for peace and civilian, democratic rule. We will act to promote accountability for those responsible for atrocities and to pursue justice for the victims. The parties must comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians, hold accountable those responsible for atrocities or other abuses, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and negotiate an end to the conflict.
We Need Your Help
In our 12 years of working alongside Sudanese heroes, we’ve never seen anything like this. Extreme violence is spreading. Entire cities and villages are being destroyed. Famine looms. And program costs are skyrocketing.
Our Sudanese partners are struggling. They need 100 of us to start giving at least $50/month to help them continue their lifesaving work. ⚡️This is a big matchmaking campaign!⚡️ The first 100 new monthly givers will be matched by a private donor for 3 months.
The Renewal is our passionate family of monthly givers supporting Sudanese heroes. You’ll receive updates from our partners roughly once a quarter, a donation receipt each month, and an annual giving statement at the beginning of each year.
Operation Broken Silence is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.
Can’t give monthly? Donate once or start a fundraising page and ask friends and family to give!
Sudan Letter To The United Nations
Operation Broken Silence is joining 22 other human rights and security organizations in calling on the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly to step up direct and indirect action.
With the crisis in Sudan spiraling out of control, Operation Broken Silence is joining 22 other human rights and security organizations in calling on the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly to step up direct and indirect action.
Sudan’s military regime disintegrated on April 15, 2023. The army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the two primary groups in the regime, went to war with each for control of Sudan.
Fighting has spread across the country, with millions of the Sudanese people caught in the crossfire and ethnic minorities facing famine, war crimes, and even genocide. The area hit hardest by the war is West Darfur, where the RSF and their Arab militia allies have already killed well over 10,000 people. South Darfur is seeing increased levels of targeted violence, too.
The letter highlights a number of recommendations put forward by the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, including but not limited to:
Requesting the Security Council President to invite briefers from civil society and affected communities to formal and informal meetings on atrocity situations.
Refraining from exercising the right of veto to block Security Council action aimed at averting or halting the commission of mass atrocities, for permanent members of the Security Council in line with the Political Declaration on Suspension of Veto Powers in Cases of Mass Atrocities and the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency Group’s Code of Conduct.
Establishing a commission of inquiry, monitoring mechanism, fact-finding mission or investigative mechanism aimed at holding perpetrators of atrocity crimes to account.
Calling on states to halt the flow of arms and military equipment to armed forces or groups suspected of committing or planning to commit atrocity crimes.
Establishing a UN peace operation or special political mission aimed at halting or averting the commission of atrocity crimes, with a mandate to monitor and promote human rights and protect civilians.
The letter has been sent to the Office of the President and the General Assembly Affairs Branch of the United Nations, as well as the Office of African Affairs, Sudan and South Sudan at the U.S. State Department, which has passed the letter along to U.S. Mission to the United Nations.
We Need Your Help
In our 12 years of working alongside Sudanese heroes, we’ve never seen anything like this. Extreme violence is spreading. Entire cities and villages are being destroyed. Famine looms. And program costs are skyrocketing.
Our Sudanese partners are struggling. They need 100 of us to start giving at least $50/month to help them continue their lifesaving work. ⚡️This is a big matchmaking campaign!⚡️ The first 100 new monthly givers will be matched by a private donor for 3 months.
The Renewal is our passionate family of monthly givers supporting Sudanese heroes. You’ll receive updates from our partners roughly once a quarter, a donation receipt each month, and an annual giving statement at the beginning of each year.
Operation Broken Silence is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.
Can’t give monthly? Donate once or start a fundraising page and ask friends and family to give!
Tariq's Story – August 2023 Darfur Escape Support & Relief Update
Tariq and two of his friends fled Zalingei in late July when fighting between the army and RSF made staying impossible.
Friends and supporters,
As many of you know, Sudan’s military regime disintegrated on April 15, 2023. The army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, the two primary groups in the regime, went to war with each for control of Sudan. Fighting has spread across the country, with millions of Sudanese caught in the crossfire and ethnic minorities facing famine, war crimes, and even genocide.
The area hit hardest by the war is West Darfur, and South Darfur is seeing increased levels of targeted violence. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their local Arab militia allies are using the fog of war to continue the genocide of ethnic African minorities that they began in the early 2000s. There are widespread reports of mass killings, gruesome executions, rapes, and pillaging. Tribal leaders in West Darfur say over 10,000 of their people have already been killed. The death toll is likely far higher.
One of our private Sudanese partners operating in Darfur has positioned several of their people in parts of South Darfur and along the Darfur-South Sudan border. They are helping refugees flee the genocide cross safely into South Sudan and providing food, clothing, and other basic necessities. Nearly 200 people have already received life-saving support.
This is a very high-risk program and the safety of these brave heroes is our top priority. We can’t release their names or information that can be used to identify their locations, but we are providing occasional updates and stories from the field so our donors and fundraisers can learn about their impact.
Tariq’s Story *
Tariq is from Zalingei in Darfur. The city’s displacement camps are home to many people who belong to African ethnic groups and have been targeted by the Rapid Support Forces and their local Arab militia allies. He says “Zalingei was my home even though it was not always easy. I was arrested once before and beaten by police.”
Tariq and two of his friends fled Zalingei in late July when fighting between the army and RSF made staying impossible. “The janjaweed stole all of our belongings but we managed to escape,” he says. Janjaweed is a term used to describe the RSF and their Arab militia allies. They left the city on foot.
Their harrowing journey through the war toward the South Sudan border lasted 16 days. Tariq and his friends say the army did nothing to protect anyone.
Our Sudanese partner provided them ground transport in South Darfur and helped them cross safely into South Sudan, giving them food when they arrived. They are now at a safe house run by our local partner.
As of the time of this posting, the situation in Zalingei has reportedly calmed, with the army claiming it has retaken control of the city. Sadly, it seems inevitable the RSF will return en force, and the army seems disinterested in protecting ordinary people. For this reason, Tariq and his friends do not plan on returning anytime soon.
“I hope to go home one day, but we cannot go back with the janjaweed breathing threats against us,” he says. “My friends are grateful to those who helped us get out. We would be dead without them. Please tell people everywhere to give so we can help more people. We can still save many lives but it takes money to do it.”
*Tariq’s name has been changed to protect his identity.
How You Can Help
In our 12 years of working alongside Sudanese heroes, we’ve never seen anything like this. Extreme violence is spreading. Entire cities and villages are being destroyed. Famine looms. Program costs are skyrocketing.
Our Sudanese partners are struggling. We’re looking for 100 individuals and families to start giving $50/month to help people escape the genocide in Darfur and meet their basic needs as they arrive.
⚡️This is a big matchmaking campaign!⚡️ The first 100 new monthly givers will be matched by a generous private donor for 3 months.
The Renewal is our passionate family of monthly givers supporting brave Sudanese heroes. When we match their grit with a monthly financial commitment, we become an unstoppable force for good.
You’ll receive a donation receipt each month and an annual giving statement at the beginning of each year. Giving monthly also comes with perks!
Operation Broken Silence is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
Donate once online or make a check payable to Operation Broken Silence and mail to PO Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900
Start a fundraising page and ask friends and family to give