Sudan's Emergency Response Rooms tops list of 2025 Nobel Peace Prize
The Director of Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Henrik Urdal, announced his list for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, with Sudan's Emergency Response Rooms topping the list.
Khartoum: Altaghyeer
The Director of Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Henrik Urdal, announced his list for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, with Sudan's Emergency Response Rooms topping the list.
The 2025 list comprises of Sudan's Emergency Response Rooms, Sheikh Mohammed, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights & The Carter Centre, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, and the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.
'Sudan's Emergency Response Rooms stand as a powerful testament to the strength of local resilience and collective action in the face of brutal war,' said Henrik Urdal.
'Their work, alongside the contributions of institutions, diplomats and long-standing peace advocates on this year's list, highlight the interconnected efforts required to advance justice and peace', he said.
Each year, PRIO's Director presents his own list for the Nobel Peace Prize.
He offers his opinion on the most worthy potential laureates, based on his independent assessment.
PRIO explained why the Sudan's Emergency Response Rooms have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize:
The armed conflict that erupted in Sudan in April 2023 has plunged the country into one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. Over 11 million people have been forcibly displaced since the start of the conflict and nearly half the Sudanese population are in need of aid.
The international system has struggled to meet overwhelming humanitarian needs, prompting community-led, volunteer aid networks in Sudan to step in and provide lifesaving services to millions of women, men and children.
One notable initiative is the Emergency Response Rooms, which offer medical care and other services to people affected by the conflict.
Operating in a decentralized structure, these groups deliver essential humanitarian assistance to communities in a highly complex conflict environment, with limited access to external resources and logistics.
Volunteers often operate in insecure areas, facing threats of harassment and violence.
Awarding this year's Peace Prize to a deserving humanitarian initiative such as the Emergency Response Rooms would highlight the critical importance of access to lifesaving aid in times of conflict.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Taghyeer
07-06-2025
- Al Taghyeer
War Economy in Sudan
War Economy in Sudan A Reading of the World Bank Report (May 2025)and the Post-War Challenges By Omer Sidahmed Sudan on the Brink: Economy in the Grip of War and the Long Road to Recovery Introduction: A War That Destroyed Everything Two years after war broke out in April 2023, Sudan stands at the edge of an unprecedented humanitarian and economic catastrophe. Over 61,000 people killed in Khartoum alone, and 12.9 million displaced — the worst displacement crisis globally. The war hasn't only displaced people — it has displaced the state itself: services halted, institutions collapsed, and the economy disintegrated. The new World Bank report paints a bleak picture — but also proposes a roadmap to recovery, provided the war ends and a national reform project begins. This article reviews the key findings of the report and offers a critical reading based on Sudan's complex political-economic reality. Economic Collapse in Numbers Sudan's GDP shrank sharply by 29.4% in 2023, followed by another 13.5% contraction in 2024, reflecting the massive destruction of infrastructure, production, and services. Inflation surged to 170%, and unemployment hit 47%. Most alarming: extreme poverty jumped to 71% of the population — up from 33% pre-war — based on the $2.15/day poverty line. The Sudanese pound collapsed, with black-market exchange rates exceeding 2,600 pounds per dollar, far beyond the official rate. Government revenues dropped to below 5% of GDP, leaving the state unable to pay salaries or fund public services. Agriculture: A Battered Sector with Lingering Hope Agriculture accounts for 35% of GDP and over 50% of jobs, yet it was devastated by war: farmers displaced, equipment looted, roads destroyed, and supplies disrupted. Grain output fell 46% in 2023 compared to the previous year, with sorghum and millet yields 50% below average. Yet the report identifies agriculture as a key pillar of recovery. Due to its geographical spread outside conflict zones, it remained relatively intact and became a refuge for families fleeing urban warzones. With proper investment, infrastructure, and institutional support, the sector could double its contribution to growth, the report argues. Path to Recovery: Reform or Reconstruction? The World Bank outlines a three-pronged approach for urgent recovery: Economic Policies Resume the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief initiative. End commodity subsidies and reform electricity tariffs to favor the poor. Unify exchange rates and restore trust in the financial system. Structural Reforms Launch major investments in agriculture and infrastructure. Reopen trade routes and reduce customs tariffs. Limit military control of the economy and dismantle the shadow war economy. Social Justice and Peacebuilding National reconciliation, truth commissions, reintegration of the displaced. Reform education and health systems, and expand social safety nets. Demine war zones and create safe environments for people and economic activity. Critique: A Technocratic Vision Detached from War Economics Isolated Indicators While the report details GDP contraction, inflation, unemployment, and currency collapse, it treats them as though they result from a natural disaster or external shock — ignoring war-related financing mechanisms and the actors driving the conflict. The informal war economy — the real foundation of Sudan's current economy — is entirely absent. So too are illicit financial flows that fund militias, gold smuggling, and parallel foreign exchange networks. There's no analysis of how state institutions were captured by military elites and militias, transforming public assets into fuel for war. Total Omission of Foreign Trade In a country heavily reliant on imports and exports, the report ignores foreign trade dynamics. There's no discussion of border control, where gold exports go, or how neighboring countries like the UAE, Egypt, Libya, and Chad facilitate or enable smuggling networks. Arms trade and informal finance channels that sustain the war economy are not addressed. Banking System: The Elephant in the Room It's puzzling that the report completely omits the banking sector, which effectively collapsed. Most commercial banks ceased operations within the first month of war in Khartoum — the hub for over 70% of bank branches. The system is now fragmented, distrusted, and isolated from global financial networks. Without functioning financial institutions, no monetary reform is possible, despite the report's recommendations. From 'Development Critique' to 'War Critique' A Chatham House report (March 2025) found that gold has become direct fuel for the war, with 70–80% of production smuggled, primarily to the UAE, and used to purchase arms and pay fighters. The state is absent, and its most valuable resource is financing conflict, not development. Repackaged Neoliberal Failure The World Bank's proposed reforms recycle previous neoliberal prescriptions — privatization, subsidy cuts, price liberalization — which have failed before. These policies did not deliver social justice; they deepened inequality and dependence. Even after the December Revolution, these policies persisted under the grip of the former regime's security apparatus. Social support systems were dismantled with no viable alternatives, while security forces monopolized national resources. Justice and Reconciliation: Beyond Cosmetic Fixes Justice can't be legislated; it requires dismantling impunity and marginalization systems. Reconciliation isn't slogans — it's accountability, militia disarmament, and reintegration. Displaced communities won't return without guarantees, compensation, land restitution, and restored services. Lessons from South Africa and Rwanda In South Africa, reconciliation wasn't free — it was tied to truth-telling and confession of crimes. In Rwanda, Gacaca community courts combined justice with reconciliation. The lesson: no peace without genuine transitional justice that honors victims and confronts atrocities. No Recovery Without Ending the War All recommendations in the report are moot unless the war ends immediately. There can be no economic reform, return of displaced people, or reconstruction amid continued bombing and militia rule. Ending the war is not optional — it is the first and absolute priority. Conclusion: From Ruin to Hope Sudan's recovery is impossible without immediate cessation of hostilities and a new political path toward civil governance and inclusive justice. Continued war renders even the most rational reforms empty illusions. Once the guns fall silent, a short-term emergency plan must begin — centered on agriculture as a practical base for food security and social stability. This plan should prioritize rebuilding essential agricultural infrastructure destroyed by war and decades of neglect, including: Irrigation channels and medium-sized dams (Gezira, Rahad, Halfa, Suki). Farm roads linking production to markets. Research and extension centers. Crop storage and aggregation hubs. Water wells and livestock drinking sources. Natural rangelands damaged by drought and displacement. Inland fisheries that ceased in regions like Upper Nile and northern dams. This infrastructure must be restored urgently and progressively, alongside provision of fuel, seeds, fertilizers, equipment, and direct technical support for farmers, herders, and fishers. Such a plan can open a recovery window and restore local communities' trust in a functioning state. Agriculture can be the cornerstone — but not the foundation alone. True recovery requires comprehensive political, institutional, and economic reform to move Sudan from extraction to production, from looting to justice, and from exclusion to inclusive governance. June 2025
Al Taghyeer
20-05-2025
- Al Taghyeer
Appointment of Kamal Idris as Prime Minister of Sudan stirs contradictory reactions
Observers describe the appointment as void of required political legitimacy and apparently failing to secure broad consensus. Port Sudan: Altaghyeer The appointment of Dr. Kamal Idris as Prime Minister of Sudan on Monday has stirred intense debate among those who support him and a strong reaction among those who opposing his appointment, as he has been linked to controversial regimes, including Omar al-Bashir's, the December Revolution but equally with the current war period. Who is Kamal Idris? Idris graduated from the University of Khartoum's Faculty of Law. He holds a Ph.D. in International Law from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. He served as Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 1997-2003. Throughout his career, he has held various distinguished positions, including member of the UN International Law Commission and spokesperson for the Group of Developing Countries. He is fluent in Arabic, English, and French, with knowledge of Spanish. Idris has received numerous awards and honors, including honorary doctorates from several universities worldwide. Contradiction and Criticism The newly appointed Prime Minister was described as a self-contradictory who seeks only his own interests. Critics pointed out that he was an uncommitted member of the Sudanese Communist Party and engaged in activities of its university students' offshoot 'the Democratic Front' and a member of the late Sudan military ruler Jaffar Nimeri's party 'the Sudanese Socialist Union' before aligning with the Islamic Front. He was a candidate in the 2010 Presidential Elections against al-Bashir with the support of Islamists, who wanted to make the elections plausible as a true democratic process. He appeared in a video clip during the latest revolution describing al-Bashir's regime as criminal and demanding it's resignation and recently appeared in a recording speech denouncing any debasing of the national army, saying such persons should be denied to assume any public posts. Challenges Ahead of the New Prime Minister The new Prime Minister Faces significant challenges, including managing the political and economic crisis, rebuilding state institutions, and achieving stability amidst the ongoing war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. He also faces challenges of being accepted by the Sudanese masses, with many expressing their rejection of his appointment, citing corruption cases linked to his career. In 2006, he reportedly faked his birth date certificate, pushing his birth date from 1945 to 1954, to fit for staying at his job, leaping away from looming retirement age at the time. Reactions Some observers believe that Kamal Idris's chances of success might be greater than expected given his neutral stance and this step could potentially pave the way for a ceasefire. But others cited reservations. Nour al-Din Salah al-Din, a partisan leader, stated that the appointment lacks the required political legitimacy, emphasizing such a move needs broad consensus resulting from a Sudanese inclusive political process. Academic Adel Taha Suleiman believes that the question was not rejecting Kamal Idris' appointment but rather putting an end to the current raging war. Idris' appointment was backed by the Islamic movement leadership who wanted the war to continue therefore Idris will come and leave without solving the roots causes of the problem, he argued.
Al Taghyeer
13-05-2025
- Al Taghyeer
We Have Hope for Promoting the Peace Agenda in Sudan During the U.S. President's Visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
We Have Hope for Promoting the Peace Agenda in Sudan During the U.S. President's Visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia By Yasir Arman The important visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia comes into an amid of regional and international developments and issues that have a significant impact on geopolitics and the future of our region. Saudi Arabia and the United States are the sponsors of the Jeddah Initiative concerning the stopping and ending the war in Sudan. This visit presents a rare opportunity to revive the initiative and push it forward with other regional and international partners. The war in Sudan has deep repercussions on issues related to the Red Sea and migration — those who cannot find the right to stay in their own country will seek it in others. It also influences terrorism and its regional and global complexities,also the suffering of millions of internally displaced persons in Sudan when witnessing the collapse of the health system and famine. The Sudanese war affects neighboring countries, many of which are also experiencing instability. Saudi Arabia shares with us, among other ties, connections of proximity, mutual interests, culture, history, the sea, geography, the mosque, and shared humanity — as well as millions of Sudanese professionals and others who have migrated there for work, and we share a common future. Millions of Sudanese hope that the U.S. President's visit to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries will contribute to promoting the agenda of ending the war and achieving peace. They seek a humanitarian ceasefire that enables Sudanese people to explore the future of their country, close the chapter of war crimes and human rights violations, and silence the guns that have been turned against the people.
