Not by Gun, But by Conscience: A Manifesto for Peace in Sudan

From War to Peace … From Fight to Insight

Introduction

The urgency for peace in Sudan has never been greater, as both political and military elites have failed to end the war. Now entering its third devastating year, the conflict has exposed the ineffectiveness of traditional peace tracks. This moment calls for intellectuals to take a leading role in a historic breakthrough toward peace by reshaping the national project beyond the narrow binaries of power and influence. Their goal must be a comprehensive vision for Sudan's future grounded in coexistence, justice, and dignity.

To this end, intellectuals must craft a new narrative that redefines patriotism—stepping away from the rigid rhetoric of the military and the self-serving practices of politicians. They are also called upon to foster a genuine civil awareness by organising popular understanding around the concept of just peace, transforming it from a superficial slogan into a structured, societal demand that places pressure on the warring parties.

In doing so, intellectuals help break political polarisation by offering narratives that transcend worn-out dichotomies such as civilian/military, central/peripheral, and political/technocratic. This lays the groundwork for alternative and parallel dialogue initiatives led by intellectuals—not subject to international agendas or factional greed—drawing instead on moral and epistemic legitimacy before the public.

These initiatives must actively include youth, women, displaced persons, and marginalised communities—groups typically excluded from elite negotiations. Intellectuals also possess the analytical ability to expose the war economy by investigating who benefits from the ongoing violence, whether domestically or internationally.

Given their independence, intellectuals can act as neutral references and credible mediators in a climate of deep mistrust among warring factions. Especially those with clean academic or human rights records can serve as trusted facilitators or moral guarantors for any future agreements.

Who Are the Intellectuals?

Intellectuals are individuals endowed with analytical capabilities and a free critical outlook on societal and global issues. Their thinking is grounded in rational methods, knowledge, and experience. While not necessarily academics, they are often researchers, writers, or activists in areas such as thought, politics, and society. Their contributions shape public opinion and influence policy.

In the context of the Sudanese peace and reconstruction initiative, "intellectuals" refers to Sudanese individuals—or those deeply concerned with Sudan—who have a record of intellectual, analytical, or research contributions on issues like governance, peace, justice, development, and identity. These individuals are actively engaged in public life through writing, teaching, debating, or civic and institutional work. They are also expected to maintain credibility and independence from narrow partisan polarisation.

What distinguishes intellectuals is their ability to delve deeply into ideas, analyze them, and relate them to real-life contexts. Their work offers realistic solutions to current problems or contributes to developing new theories and visions. Intellectuals are not mere transmitters of information or distributors of ideas; rather, they are the creators of original thought rooted in Sudan's societal realities and aimed at societal development.

Intellectuals may be scientists, writers, philosophers, historians—or even military leaders—if their intellectual output has made a tangible impact within their respective domains.

Intellectuals – Politicians – Military: Who Can Decipher the Code of War?

Though intellectuals can be found among both politicians and military figures, they can be distinguished from independent thinkers by examining their areas of focus, degree of intellectual independence, and the nature of their ideas. A political intellectual concentrates on governance and politics, often aligned with a specific ideology or political system. A military intellectual is concerned with defense and security, focusing on the development of military strategies. In contrast, the independent intellectual maintains intellectual autonomy, does not belong to any authority or faction, and forms opinions based on logic and reason.

The issue of peace in Sudan is deep-rooted and complex. It cannot be resolved by one group—be it intellectuals, politicians, or military figures—alone. Rather, it has historically involved an interplay of roles among all these actors, whose varying contributions have shaped outcomes over different eras. The real challenge lies in identifying who has the capacity to break the cycle of stagnation.

Since independence, Sudanese intellectuals have played a crucial role in diagnosing the country's crises and proposing theoretical solutions. They've emphasised that Sudan's issues are not merely political or military, but structural—concerning identity, power and wealth distribution, and the management of cultural and religious diversity. While their contributions often remained within elite or discursive circles, their deep analytical insights have consistently pointed to the core of Sudan's challenges.

Politicians, whether in civilian or military governments, have been primary actors in negotiating peace agreements and shaping official policies. However, Sudan's experience shows that civilian governments often failed to achieve lasting peace. Ironically, it was sometimes authoritarian or military regimes that succeeded in brokering major peace deals—such as the 1972 Addis Ababa Agreement under Nimeiri, the 2005 Naivasha Agreement under Bashir, and the 2020 Juba Agreement during a transitional government where the military had dominant influence.

Yet, these agreements frequently sidelined intellectual substance in favor of political expedience and military dominance, leading to their eventual collapse. In Sudan, military leaders have not only implemented policies but often shaped them through coups or by imposing their vision on the political process—sometimes with the blessing or invitation of political actors, resulting in militarised and prolonged conflict.

Thus, peace in Sudan has never been addressed on one level alone. It has depended on the interplay of:

• Intellectuals diagnosing the crisis and proposing theoretical solutions,
• Politicians negotiating and signing agreements,
• And military actors imposing or participating in security arrangements.

However, the absence of a holistic vision, serious implementation, and the failure to address root structural causes—which intellectuals emphasise—has left all efforts short of delivering lasting peace.

The Failure of Bilateral and Multilateral Efforts to End the War

In the two years since the outbreak of war in Sudan, various bilateral and multilateral initiatives have sought to contain the conflict. However, most efforts have been symbolic or tentative, lacking the seriousness required to confront the catastrophic humanitarian consequences that have affected the entire Sudanese population. The situation has been described as the world's worst humanitarian disaster.

Below is a simplified table documenting and evaluating key peace initiatives from the Jeddah Platform (May 2023) to the London Conference (May 2025). The table includes the sponsoring entity, participating parties, stated objectives, major outcomes, and overall assessment. Evaluation is based on a combination of political and humanitarian impact, and actual progress toward a ceasefire.

It is notable that initiatives involving civilians contributed partially to unifying the civilian voice but had no impact on the military confrontation. Additionally, almost all efforts lacked binding international mechanisms, making them largely ineffective despite good intentions.

These outcomes illustrate that while some diplomatic movement occurred, the absence of robust international mechanisms and binding commitments rendered most initiatives ineffective. The inclusion of civilian voices helped consolidate advocacy and legitimacy but lacked sufficient leverage over the warring factions.

The 'Conscience of Sudan' Campaign

The "Call of Intellect and Conscience for Peace and Reconstruction of Sudan" is an independent initiative to break free from despair. It is led by Sudanese intellectuals, researchers, and academics—both inside the country and in the diaspora—in cooperation with national think tanks. The initiative aims to exert moral and intellectual pressure on key actors in the Sudanese arena to end the war and achieve a just and comprehensive peace, while laying strong foundations for reconstruction rooted in justice, moral responsibility, and good governance.

The initiative aspires to become a collective platform for critical thinking and forward-looking visions, where voices of reason and expertise come together to confront war discourse and polarisation. It seeks to formulate political, humanitarian, and practical pathways for peace and to rebuild Sudan on democratic and inclusive foundations.

Campaign Tools and Implementation

The "Conscience of Sudan" campaign employs multiple strategic tools to build momentum for peace and reconstruction efforts.

Key Campaign Messages

• "We are not against anyone, but for the homeland and against war."
• "Peace is not a concession, but a vital national interest."
• "Peace cannot be built without its victims."
• "We reject both militarised solutions and elite-dominated dialogue."
• "Intellectuals are not spectators, but a vanguard for peace and national reconstruction."

Success Indicators

• Engagement of more than 100 intellectuals/researchers in the campaign within six months.
• Wide circulation of the founding statement in media and political spheres.
• Response by at least one international or regional actor to campaign outputs.
• Launch of a permanent institution: the "Sudan Forum for Just Peace."

The Conscience of Sudan Appeal

From Sudanese Intellectuals to End the War and Build a Just Peace

To the noble Sudanese people,

To the resistance committees, steadfast women, devastated youth, and the marginalised across every region of the country,

To every living conscience at home and in the diaspora:

As this brutal war enters its third year—waged between two parties neither of whom were mandated by the people—and as devastation ravages our homeland through killing, displacement, humiliation, and the collapse of state and society, We, a group of Sudanese intellectuals and researchers, issue this popular appeal, convinced that this moment calls for the moral and intellectual conscience of the nation to rise, now that weapons have failed, politics has collapsed, and peace initiatives have crumbled.

First: The Essence of the Appeal

We do not seek to replace anyone, nor do we aspire to power or guardianship. We carry only a message of responsibility and national duty. Sudan's future must not remain hostage to the gun, nor to satellite debates, nor to foreign deals. It must be returned to its rightful owners—the people—through a new social contract built on:

• An immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
• A comprehensive national dialogue that places victims and the marginalised at its center—not its margins.
• The reconstruction of the state and nation on the foundations of justice and citizenship—not quotas or vengeance.

Second: On the Causes of Failure and Future Options

The military has failed to protect the nation. Traditional political forces have failed to unify or represent the people's will. The international community has at times ignored Sudan, and at others pretended concern—its vision lacking, its path lost.

Now only one option remains: that we—Sudan's sons and daughters—step forward in collective responsibility, and lead a third path outside the agendas of war and the maneuvers of politics, far from complicity or detachment.

Third: A Call to Action

Through this urgent appeal, we call for:

• The formation of a permanent national forum for Sudanese intellectuals, creatives, and researchers—inside and outside the country—to serve as a platform for producing an alternative discourse and a new vision for peace and reconstruction.
• The launch of a grassroots dialogue process that includes resistance committees, women, youth, unions, and representatives of displacement camps and exile communities, to shape the outlines of Sudan's future.
• A united call to all honest civilian forces to join this rational and independent path, and to avoid aligning with warring factions or power-seekers.
• An appeal to the region and the world: listen to the voice of the Sudanese people—not to the weapons of their generals or the deals of their elites.

Fourth: Messages to the People of Sudan

• To the Resistance Committees: You are the hope of this nation. Do not let your sacrifices be traded for militarisation or power-sharing deals.
• To the Armed Movements: The time has come to lay down arms and join a peaceful social contract that uplifts your marginalised bases and ends the root causes of war.
• To Sudanese Women: You have paid the highest price. You must be at the forefront of shaping the next peace and reconstruction process.
• To the Youth: Do not wait for a savior. Be the savior. Be the lifeline, the bridge between war and peace, between devastation and hope.

Fifth: In Conclusion

We believe that ideas change destinies, and a people with awareness cannot be defeated, even if they temporarily lose power. With this appeal, we declare the beginning of a new national alliance—intellectual and popular. It seeks not to rule, but to end the war and open a horizon for just peace and a democratic civil state.

Victory will not come through weapons, but through conscience, reason, and true patriotism.