By Paschal Norbert
KAMPALA, JUNE 24, 2025 (CISA)- The African Center for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) has launched its “Voices of Peace” campaign in Kampala, in a bold effort to amplify calls for peace and youth inclusion in Sudan’s peacebuilding process. The campaign aims to spotlight the growing militarization of young people, champion the role of civil society, and push for sustainable solutions to end the brutal two-year war in Sudan that has displaced millions and dismantled public life.
Speaking during the press launch, Mossaad Mohamed Ali, Executive Director of ACJPS, underscored the urgent need for a shift in Sudan’s approach to resolving the conflict. He insisted that lasting peace requires more than ceasefires – it demands inclusive dialogue involving civil society, political forces, and most critically, the youth.
“The Sudanese must turn the page filled with armed conflicts,” said Ali, adding “Civil society organizations and political forces must play a tangible and significant role in ending armed conflict and building sustainable peace.”
Ali emphasized that the “Voices of Peace” campaign will center on raising awareness across communities about the cost of war and the promise of peace. He noted that millions of Sudanese have suffered deeply over the past two years and called for meaningful youth participation in shaping the country’s future.
Peacebuilding expert Hanadi El-Mak painted a grim picture of the war’s social impact, highlighting the alarming recruitment of children and adolescents by warring factions.
“Sudan is immersed in the recruitment of children and youth by military parties,” she said, stressing the urgency of countering war narratives with peace education and grassroots advocacy.
“The campaign will be effective in all states of Sudan to promote peace, the necessity of ending the war, and restoring the peaceful and democratic process and institutions that provide services to citizens,” El-Mak explained.
She further clarified that the conflict in Sudan cannot be reduced to a simple binary between the national army and the Rapid Support Forces.
“There are multiple armed parties, including militias fighting alongside the main factions,” she noted, adding to the complexity and volatility of the situation.
Campaign director Enas Abdel Rahman shared troubling insights into how the war is shaping the minds of Sudanese children.
“Some children in school are reciting war phrases circulated on social media platforms,” she said, stating “This mirrors the atmosphere of fear and conflict that now defines life in Sudan.”
The “Voices of Peace” campaign, set to run for several months, aims to counteract these trends by fostering dialogue, advocating for an end to violence, and supporting the re-establishment of democratic institutions in Sudan.
Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since April 2023, primarily between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The war has resulted in widespread atrocities, economic collapse, and one of the worst displacement crises in modern African history – with over 13 million people forced to flee their homes.
The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies is a non-profit organization committed to monitoring and promoting human rights in Sudan. ACJPS envisions a Sudan where all people can live free from fear and want in a society grounded in justice, equality, and peace.
