Two states suffering the most from military inflictions of death, displacement and starvation are Sudan and Palestine. Solidarity with the Palestinian people has grown throughout the world and in many situations, activists are making the links with the suffering of other colonized peoples. For example, on Tiotia:ke/Turtle Island the connection to the oppression and exploitation of Indigenous communities is clear. And at McGill University, the Kanien’keha’:ka First Nation openly supports the Palestine solidarity encampment.
On May 9, over 100 people attended a teach-in, performance and poster-making event about Sudan and Black Palestinian solidarity at the Palestinian solidarity encampment at McGill. Spring Magazine spoke to organizer Sarah Elobaid Ahmed and Yasser Essa, who spoke at the teach-in.
Origins
The Sudanese Solidarity Collective, formed in November 2023, saw the Palestine solidarity encampment as a perfect spot to link the two struggles, given the long history of solidarity between Black and African struggles and Palestine, and the dehumanization of both struggles by the media and imperialist powers.
As Sarah Elobaid Ahmed explains, “Our goal was to urge community members to think critically about their solidarity and relationships of solidarity more generally. We hoped to compel people to think about Sudan in relation to Palestine under a greater fight against the imperial war machine. And ultimately, we needed the community being born from this beautiful encampment to keep eyes on Sudan.”
The mood at the event was electric.
“Throughout the event, emotions were high in the most empowering way, both amongst those facilitating the event and the crowd. I believe for a lot of us who were participating in the event it was rather surreal to contend with the size of the crowd and the level of engagement we were being granted,” describes Ahmed. “For me personally, the whole experience felt cathartic. Growing up in the diaspora, I feel my privileged position requires me to advocate for my people in this capacity and part of the emotional impact of the event for me was getting to do just that.”
Winning demands
The Sudanese Solidarity Collective looks to expose the wrongdoing in Sudan and calls for justice and anti-oppression, non-violent actions.
Yasser Essa points to the clear connections between the Israeli government and the war in Sudan. In 2020, he explains, the US required establishing open ties with Israel a condition for Sudan being removed from the list of terrorist states.
“In the current Sudan war, the Israeli occupation, along with other regional players, supports both sides,” explains Essa. “[Israel and its allies] normalize diplomatic relations with the Sudan Armed Forces while profiting from military and technology investments with the Rapid Support Force. While smuggling resources and involvement in the gold trade, facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, (they) indirectly fund the ongoing bloody war on Palestinians in Gaza.”
“[The collective] also sheds light on the role of multinational corporations in Sudan’s war, advocates for resisting colonial legacies together, and [takes] collective actions to strive for justice,” says Essa.
Ahmed and Essa agree that unity and growing strength among colonized peoples is key.
“Decolonization requires holistic liberation – socially, culturally, and economically. To achieve this, we must awaken our minds and recognize how individual and societal suffering intertwine with oppressive systems. Historically, colonial practices and imperial ideologies exploited and abused nations and plundered resources,” says Essa.
“Capitalist interests have significantly shaped global conflicts, from World War I to World War II and many wars of today. Over the past two decades, Israel and capitalist forces have directly and indirectly fueled conflicts across the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf…unnecessary wars are initiated only to secure profits and power for a select few. To counter this destructive cycle, we must mobilize and build inclusive communities committed to nonviolent action, anti-oppression, and global justice. Strong alliances and collective support are essential to achieving our demands,” Essa adds.
The importance of alliances
Strong alliances are also necessary in the struggle against colonialism.
“Productive allyship rests in effective non-performative solidarity, which is emulated through deeper engagement, studying our issues, paying attention to what Sudanese people are asking for, looking at the complicity of your own governments, and participating in immigration initiatives,” says Ahmed.
“There is a huge call to action right now coming both from the ground and from the diaspora which is supporting Emergency Response Rooms (ERR). ERRs are at the front lines of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and supporting their continual operation is crucial. It is integral that we not look at any one issue in isolation as we continue to organize.”
Currently, the Sudan Solidarity Collective is also working with other student groups and networks. The teach-in has played a role in strengthening ties between different struggles and activists.
“Afterwards, without any of our involvement, the activists started chanting for Sudan. Some Palestinian student organizers have been incorporating Sudan demands into their work, including at the Nakba rally. People don’t know where to start with that relationship but it is there, and Black Africans are used to being dehumanized and Palestinians can relate to that,” says Ahmed.
Challenges and next steps
Ahmed and Essa agree that more action is needed, including but beyond educational work.
Essa suggests more outreach, for example, “using petitions or letters with demands for different struggling groups, Palestine, Sudan, Haiti – all influenced by American capitalism – and look for common values and demands to send to the government.
“We also need to have more protests, both the encampment and general protests. Also commemorating Nakba Day and the Sudan revolution in our schools, universities and workplaces would help educate people here about this painful history and ongoing reality, and help prevent future injustices.”
Ahmed agrees, “The Palestine movement has done well so far at making it a people’s issue, an Indigenous, anti-imperialist, everyone’s issue. Whereas people see Sudan as mostly a Sudanese issue. So petitions, protests etc. help pick up the momentum.”
Allies, fellow activists, and organizers can get in touch with the Sudan Solidarity Collective through their website and Instagram account. The Collective is looking for monthly supporters to support ERRs and civilians in Sudan.
Sarah Elobaid Ahmed is a Sudanese student at McGill University who recently joined the Sudanese Solidarity Collective. Yasser Essa is a Sudanese anti-oppression activist and community builder.
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