Essay

From Streets to State: Youth, Power, and the Struggle for Inclusive Political Space in Sudan

Rania Aziz Joins UVA’s Democratic Futures Project

n a world where democratic values are increasingly at risk, young Sudanese activists offer a powerful example of resilience and determination. Through UVA’s Democratic Futures Project (DFP), these activists are exploring pathways toward a more inclusive and just political future in Sudan.

As the Sudan conflict enters its second year, over 13 million people have been displaced, with over half of the population facing severe food shortages and almost 755,000 people facing famine. It did not have to be this way. In the 2018 revolution, young Sudanese women and men led mass protests that successfully ousted the 30-year Islamist regime of Omar al-Bashir. This youth-led uprising, often referred to as Thawrat Banat (the girls’ revolution), was marked by nonviolent resistance, strategic mobilization through the Sudanese Professional Association (SPA) and neighborhood committees, and demands for freedom, peace, and justice.

Despite their crucial role in toppling the regime, youth and women were largely excluded from the formal political processes that followed. The power-sharing agreement between the military and the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) sidelined young activists, resistance committees, community organizers, and revolutionary movements. Factional disputes emerged, engulfing Sudan in a war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF (Rapid Support Forces) militia. Why were youth excluded? Did youth movements deliberately focus on resistance over seeking active participation in governance? How did the exclusion of youth leadership damage the possibility for a lasting democratic and peaceful future? How can a democratic future be built for Sudan?

The failure to include youth leadership in this process has only deepened mistrust and instability during this vital period.

Rania Aziz has joined the Democratic Futures Project to not only answer these questions, but to develop a plan forward. Aziz will draw from her own experience in undertaking this research. A former member of the SPA, Aziz was a vital player in the revolution, as well as advocating for the role of women following political transition. “The failure to include youth leadership in this process has only deepened mistrust and instability during this vital period,” Aziz said. “We now need to find a pathway forward that is inclusive of youth voices in the peace process, governance, and post-war recovery building.” Aziz added that she appreciates the support of UVA's DFP team as she pursues these critical questions.

The DFP is an alliance of international democratic advocates, academics, policy makers, and students who support research that can impact current global struggles for democracy. With projects in over ten countries, DFP provides a collaborative space for research and action. In its support of From Streets to State, DFP is benefitting from the work of UVA graduate student, Hana Bakhit, and undergraduate students, Meti Dinku and Suha Osman.

For Bakhit, this research speaks to her personal experience, "As a young Sudanese who both participated in and witnessed the transformative 2019 revolution, this project gives me an opportunity to contribute to my country's future. Working with DFP to explore youth involvement in Sudan’s political landscape allows me to help build a path forward that truly honors the courage and aspirations of Sudan’s youth."

For Dinku, the work is also close to home. “During the Tigray War in 2020, Sudan became a refuge for many displaced Ethiopians. Beyond Sudan's warm hospitality, it's the kindness of the people that inspires me,” she said. “I truly believe in humanity, and I've come to realize that Africa’s social issues are often overlooked by the rest of the world. That’s why I want to be part of this incredible project—to amplify the voices of the voiceless and bring these issues to the forefront. They are human beings, and they deserve basic human rights.”

For me, my identity as a young Sudania challenges me to consider how things might have been different-or could still be–in the Sudanese War. It’s an opportunity to contribute not just as an observer, but as someone whose own story is part of the larger questions we’re asking.

The work is personal for Osman as well. “To me, intersectionality is no longer an abstract idea; I’ve come to understand it as the way my experiences have become shaped by my heritage and my youth. For me, my identity as a young Sudania challenges me to consider how things might have been different-or could still be–in the Sudanese War.” She expressed that engaging in this research project is a chance to dig deep into these intersections, exploring not just what has been but what could be, and bringing to light an important dialogue that has remained in the margins. “It’s an opportunity to contribute not just as an observer, but as someone whose own story is part of the larger questions we’re asking,” Osman concluded.

While they are currently working over Zoom, Aziz will be undertaking a short residency in Spring 2025. During this time, she hopes to connect with other students and UVA faculty interested in working on the future of democracy in Sudan and contributing to this timely and necessary dialogue. Aziz will also participate in the April 2025 People Power Academy, a conference hosted by DFP/CANVAS that brings together international advocates, academics, policy makers, and journalists to discuss the future of global democracy.