Nairobi, Kenya | 21 September, 2026
By: Kubaza Florence
As we commemorate the International Day of Peace, I stand with the people of Sudan, especially families who have lost their loved ones, children who have been forced to grow up surrounded by fear, women carrying the burden of displacement and uncertainty, and young people whose dreams have been interrupted by the continuing conflict. I stand with communities that continue to show courage in the face of hunger, loss, displacement and the destruction of their homes and livelihoods. I also stand in solidarity with the people of El-Fasher and Al-Obeid cities who continue to bear some of the greatest burden of the conflict, including mass displacement, mass atrocities, acts bearing the hallmarks of genocide, starvation, relentless drone attacks, systematic infrastructure collapse, and devastating disease outbreaks. Suffering must not become an ordinary subject of international discussion since every Sudanese life matters, and every story of loss deserves to be heard.
On this International Day of Peace, I remain concerned about the kind of peace that can be negotiated for Sudan. Peace must not simply mean an agreement between armed actors or a temporary silence between battles but rather peace has to respond to the realities of ordinary Sudanese people, for instance the mother searching for food and safety, the child unable to acquire education, the displaced family longing to return home, the survivor seeking justice and the young person wondering whether there is still a future in their country.
I acknowledge the ongoing efforts by the regional and international actors to negotiate peace in Sudan, support a cessation of hostilities and find a political solution to the conflict. The ongoing initiatives undertaken by the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates under the umbrella “the Quad”, the African Union, IGAD, the League of Arab States, the European Union and the United Nations under the umbrella “Quintet” must ensure Sudanese play a central role in taking important steps towards peace in their country.
The Sudanese people must not be seen as spectators but they must have meaningful opportunities to participate in the discussions and their voices must influence decisions about governance, security, justice and national recovery. The protection of civilians must remain at the centre of every negotiation. Civil society and humanitarian organisations must be allowed to respond to the needs of the people, and hospitals, schools, places of worship and essential infrastructure must not be targeted by the warring parties. The parties to the conflict and those who influence them must respect international humanitarian and human rights law. As part of the effort to bring peace to our brothers and sisters in Sudan, those responsible for violations as well as those who participate in and enable or fund the continuing conflict must be held accountable at either the national and international levels. This is because genuine peace requires truth, justice and responsibility. Serious violations must be investigated through credible and independent processes, and victims and survivors must be recognised and supported.
Therefore, as I encourage the people of Sudan not to give up their vision of a peaceful and democratic country and as I stand together in defence of peace, human dignity and their country’s future. I continue to urge people of good will to continue speaking about the ongoing war in Sudan and for the African Union and the International community to make critical interventions that ensures the safety of the Sudanese people. I conclude by saying that Sudan’s future must be shaped by its own people through unity, courage, dialogue, active participation and not through violence or exclusion. Every peace process must uphold the rule of law, protect the rights and dignity of civilians, and ensure that those who commit, enable or support violations are held accountable for their actions.