Agents of Change: How Sudanese Youth are Mobilising for Peace amid Conflict

Young women and men, often bearing the brunt of the nation’s instability, are refusing to surrender their future to the chaos around them.

Sudan’s youth have been at the forefront of transformative change throughout the country’s tumultuous journey. From the social movement that ended Omer al-Bashir’s regime in 2019 to non-violent protests resisting the 2021 military takeover, their resolve has been unyielding. Yet, the eruption of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in April 2023 has plunged the nation into unprecedented turmoil.

The statistics are staggering: millions displaced, infrastructure destroyed, and a humanitarian crisis of immense proportions.

“This conflict is not just an armed struggle; it is the destruction of futures,” said Hanna Eltigani Mohamed, Assistant-Secretary General of the Youth Citizen Observer Network, to the UN Security Council in October 2024.

Amid these challenges, a Carter Center initiative illustrates both how young people can be empowered and how peacebuilding programmes need to be adaptive.  The Carter Center began work in 2022 as the convening agency for the UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF)-supported project, “Sudan Youth Citizen Observer Network: Strengthening Youth’s Role as Peacebuilders and Promoters of Civic Space in Sudan’s Transition.”

With a total budget of $1.49 million for an initial 18-month period (March 2022 to September 2023), the project aimed to establish a youth-led network to monitor Sudan’s transition to democracy. However, the outbreak of widespread conflict in 2023 necessitated an extension of the project to September 2024, allowing it to adapt to the deteriorating security context and shifting priorities. The project managed to raise millions in additional funds.

The project has engaged 18 youth-led organizational partners and 540 civil society organizations (CSOs) to implement activities and participate in advisory bodies.

The Carter Center conducted mapping and consultation exercises across all 18 Sudanese states to inform the start-up phase and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sudan’s Ministry of Youth and Sports in August 2020. Shortly thereafter, the Carter Center began building the capacity of focal points who would lead the establishment of the Youth Citizen Observer Network (YCON), a coalition of determined youth mobilizing for monitoring and advocacy of peace and democracy amid Sudan’s most dire crisis in recent history.

“Through the Youth, Peace, and Security agenda, we have seen that engaging young people is crucial to sustaining peace efforts. Their voices offer unique perspectives, their actions create real change, and their feedback ensures that our policies remain grounded in reality,” said Clementine Nkweta-Salami, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan.

The first of YCON’s statements and public reports was released in April 2023, immediately following the outbreak of violent conflict in Sudan. By September 2024, YCON had developed a multi-tier project management and reporting structure and assumed full responsibility for training its network of observers.

Dr. Guma Kunda Komey, Head of Carter Center Peace Programs in Sudan, said, “The youth in Sudan have continued to be agents of change since the October Revolution in 1964 and throughout the 2019 revolution. They continue to push for a better Sudan, a Sudan that is peaceful and democratic. Today, they are the victims of the war, and therefore, they are again pushing for a peaceful solution to the current crisis in order to be, the beneficiaries of a peaceful Sudan.”

When conflict spread across Sudan in 2023, YCON pivoted its focus to monitoring the humanitarian, political, and security situation. Leveraging training from The Carter Center in impartial observer methodology, data collection, verification, reporting, and advocacy, YCON began producing timely, data-driven reports to document the evolving crisis. To date, the network has released 58 reports in both English and Arabic, providing national and international policymakers with credible insights into conflict dynamics. These reports, many of which are also shared on YCON’s social media platforms, have been instrumental in shaping conversations around ceasefires and humanitarian access.

This has been no mean feat. The 57 observers collecting data from across Sudan’s 18 states and producing these reports operate in highly insecure conditions, often under the threat of shelling, looting, and other security risks. Many YCON members face the constant prospect of relocation to ensure their safety. Regular electricity and mobile network outages compound the challenges, forcing observers to travel for days just to submit critical information.

“The importance of this network lies in the fact that it is the only honest and continuous voice that comes from the middle of the guns and clearly explains the facts on the ground,” shared one YCON observer.

In the midst of war, YCON members have become vital links between their communities and the broader national dialogue. Their reports, which include over 100 recommendations, have been recognized internationally and contributed to discussions around ceasefires and peace agreements. Examples of YCON recommendations include the international community “exerting pressure [on Sudanese] authorities to prevent the restriction of freedoms, including the activities of citizens and local civil society organizations.”

YCON’s 145 trained observers—including 51 women—operate under constant threats of violence, displacement, and resource constraints. Women, however, have played a vital role in shaping the network’s impact, comprising 46% of YCON’s lead observers.

YCON’s advocacy efforts have also yielded results. Over the past year, the network has held 10 advocacy meetings, engaging over 600 colleagues from Sudanese CSOs, resistance committees, and emergency rooms. These meetings have created a platform for grassroots voices to be heard and contributed to shaping dialogue around ceasefires and humanitarian access.

Amid these efforts, the mediators’ resilience has become a lifeline for communities. Their contributions include breaking barriers, with women not only participating but leading in decision-making processes that were once inaccessible to them.

The success of YCON lies in its structure and values:

YCON’s broad youth-led coalition is built on the input of over 7,000 youth groups, fostering solidarity and ensuring diverse perspectives inform its actions. Results revealed a “fragile optimism” for Sudan’s future and youth’s role in it, which informed YCON’s creation with over 500 peer-nominated Sudanese youth-led CSOs.

Its field-based observation model has trained over 180 youth observers—including a substantial number of young women—in essential skills such as conflict observation, data collection, and reporting. This has equipped local communities with the tools to monitor conflicts and respond to crises effectively.

With support from The Carter Center, YCON is transitioning to autonomy, taking steps to register as an international NGO.

The international community has taken notice. YCON’s participation in the UN Security Council in 2024 underscored the pivotal role of Sudanese youth in shaping the country’s future. Hanna Eltigani Mohamed’s words resonate deeply: “Sudan’s youth don’t just seek intervention; we ask for empowerment, true partnership, and the chance to rebuild what conflict and oppression have stolen. We are not just victims—we are agents of change.”

As the 20th anniversary of the Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda approaches, YCON offers a powerful example of what youth-led peacebuilding can achieve, even in the most challenging circumstances. Sudan’s young leaders are not just survivors of conflict—they are architects of change, proving that the path to peace is forged through resilience, collaboration, and unwavering hope.