The Sudanese civil war, which began in April 2023, has devastated the North African nation; it has forcibly displaced 12 million people, caused widespread famine, contracted the economy by 40% in two years and created a humanitarian crisis. Additionally, polarization has divided society, leading to distrust among civilians and street fighting. Still without a cease-fire, many Sudanese residents have taken it upon themselves to reduce violence.

Religious leaders, respected elders and youth groups trained in peacebuilding have protected markets, brokered local peace agreements, improved communication and community outreach and helped civilians relocate safely and access hospitals. Although only national peace negotiations can end the war, local peace efforts in Sudan have saved lives and rebuilt the trust necessary for creating and maintaining a peaceful nation.

Ground-Level Local Peacebuilding Efforts

There have been noticeable reductions in violence where local peace initiatives have taken place, as seen in the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) “Bridging Divides” report from October 2025. The report tracked efforts in the Darfur and Kordofan regions, noting the key actors, objectives and successes. In places such as Nyala, Ad-duain and Babanousa, native administrative figures, business leaders, local authorities and tribal chiefs led the charge; while in Zalingei, Youth Peace Ambassadors trained by the UNDP drove the initiatives.

In El Fasher, a formal group, the Elders and Mediation Committee of El Fasher, formed to represent various voices throughout the region including women’s representatives and representatives of armed groups. These leaders shared similar objectives, namely protecting essential infrastructure and medical facilities, brokering local cease-fires and assisting civilians with travel and aid. Because of the polarization experienced throughout Sudan, these groups also spread awareness campaigns and opened up dialogue between divided community members.

While most negotiated temporary cease-fires or truces to sustain regular civilian life, the efforts in Ad-duain led to a seven-month peace span and the committee in El Fasher prevented large-scale clashes for about a year. Local leaders in Ad-duain, Zalingei and Babanousa also reached out to the Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese Armed Forces directly in hopes of postponing major confrontations and creating verbal non-aggression arrangements within their regions.

Read the full article about local peace efforts in Sudan by Joshua P. Megson at The Borgen Project.