Podcast Summary: Into Africa — Sudan: Navigating the World’s Largest Humanitarian Crisis

Host: Oge Onubogu, Senior Fellow and Director, Africa Program, CSIS
Guests:

• Haneen Ahmed, Sudanese civil society activist
• Daniel Omaui, Head of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation in Sudan
  Date: February 12, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode addresses the acute and ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where conflict has created extraordinary needs and a unique response landscape. Host Oge Onubogu interviews grassroots activist Haneen Ahmed and ICRC Sudan head Daniel Omaui, focusing on:

• The innovative role of Sudanese grassroots mutual aid groups and civil society
• The international humanitarian response, its challenges, and the importance of including Sudanese voices
• The impact of sustained conflict on social cohesion, humanitarian access, and prospects for peace
  Both guests share insights on the evolving needs, essential practices, and personal reflections through music.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power and Uniqueness of Sudan’s Grassroots Mutual Aid (02:20–04:10)

• Mutual Aid Groups’ Adaptability:
  Haneen Ahmed describes how Sudan’s grassroots groups are highly effective because they operate with intimate knowledge of local contexts, which can vary even within a single state.
• Innovation under Crisis:
  She recalls a 2025 mass evacuation and mutual aid groups’ rapid response to address over 200 rape cases and the evacuation of over 5,000 civilians.

  “This capacity is something unique where there is complete absence for the international community and for the governments on the ground.” — Haneen Ahmed (03:39)

• Sacrificial Commitment:
  Ahmed emphasizes the self-sacrifice and financial contributions made by youth-led groups:

  “The amount of time that they spend to preach the gap on the ground, and also the amount of money they are spending... It's millions of dollars.” (03:51)

2. Building Social Cohesion Amid Fragmentation (04:10–06:33)

• Solidarity and Sacrifice:
  Despite deep fragmentation fueled by ethnic and political conflict, communities are developing new models of unity, prioritizing aid to worst-hit areas, and working through mutual aid dialogue.
• Hope for Reweaving the Social Fabric:
  Ahmed discusses how these groups are creating “a new model of the community” that is unifying across regions and ethnicities.

3. The Need for Local Voices in Humanitarian Response (06:33–09:56)

• Effective Humanitarian Solutions:
  Ahmed urges international actors to amplify Sudanese perspectives, noting local consultation leads to more accurate, sustainable aid outcomes.

  “We have experienced a lot of kind of funding, but at the end of the day we discover... the localized fund is the most effective way to fund the grassroots model.” (08:54) “Even with the magnitude of this crisis, the solution... has to come from Sudan, has to come from the Sudanese people.” — Oge Onubogu (09:39)

4. Hope, Art, and Resilience (10:04–11:58)

• On Hope:
  Despite profound crises, Ahmed hopes for peace, freedom, and restoration of dreams lost to war and dictatorship:

  “I hope, of course, the beast that we stood up for it during the 2018 revolution.” — Haneen Ahmed (11:19)

• Musical Recommendation:
  She lifts up “Freedom is Coming” by a South African singer as an anthem of hope. (11:54)

5. The Red Cross in Sudan: Mandate, History, and Approach (12:15–15:23)

• ICRC Mandate:
  Daniel Omaui details the ICRC’s Geneva Convention-based mandate, focusing on protection, direct engagement with all armed parties, and response to humanitarian law violations.
• Longstanding Presence:
  The ICRC has been active in Sudan since 1978, functioning both as a responder and an operational base for regional crises. (14:02–14:47)
• Neutral, Trusted Actor:
  Omaui emphasizes “neutrality” is operational, not passive—core for building trust with all sides and for effective humanitarian access.

  “Neutrality... is more of an operational principle... if you need to talk to those who are responsible... you need to have a degree of trust.” (15:23)

6. Integrating Local and National Perspectives, and the Role of Sudanese Voices (18:36–21:29)

• Multi-level Coordination:
  The ICRC combines local engagement (working with the Sudanese Red Crescent and communities), national advocacy, and international diplomacy to address the layered conflicts in Sudan.
• On Ownership:
  Omaui relates a memorable analogy:

  “We have to distinguish between knowledge and wisdom... knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting a tomato in a fruit salad.” — Daniel Omaui (20:53) He stresses that “the wisdom will have to come from the Sudanese.”

7. Humanitarian Access and Reaching Populations at Risk (21:29–25:13)

• Access Complexities:
  Omaui describes diverse barriers—permits, shifting frontlines, and active fighting. Trust-building ahead of crises is essential to access and response.
• Power of Prevention and Dialogue:
  Successful humanitarian action hinges on existing networks and relationships—not just visible activities.

  “If you don’t have the investment before in networking, in being there, in having that dialogue... you won’t be able to do the other elements.” (23:41)

8. Food Insecurity: Tactical and Targeted (25:13–27:56)

• Tactical Use of Starvation:
  Food insecurity is most acute in areas under siege, used as a military tactic.

  “The issue of food insecurity in Sudan has been very much linked to the way in which some of the military actions are conducted…” (25:43)

• Invisible Suffering:
  Omaui stresses that day-to-day tragedies—displacement, violence, missing people—are as critical as headline-grabbing crises.

9. Humanitarian Needs and Aid Allocation (27:56–30:35)

• Universal Impact:
  The conflict affects the entire country, unlike typical conflicts with “safe” regions.
• Critical Infrastructure:
  Deliberate attacks on infrastructure mean restoring basic water, power, and medical services is vital—not just emergency relief.
• Medium-term Priorities:
  Short-term aid must be integrated with efforts to rebuild essential systems.

10. Humanitarian Reset and Pathways to Peace (30:35–36:45)

• Peace Beyond Cessation of Fighting:
  The ICRC reflects on the connection between respect for humanitarian law during war and prospects for sustainable peace.

  “If international humanitarian law is respected... it boils down to keeping the dignity of the people, [and] will translate eventually into more solid peace processes.” (32:48)

• Trust and Confidence Building:
  Omaui notes humanitarian work can foster depoliticized dialogue and trust—even outside explicit political negotiations.

11. Final Reflections and Music for Resilience (36:45–38:28)

• Humanitarian Action Beyond Aid Parcels:
  Omaui cautions against viewing aid as merely distribution—it’s about complex engagement and dialogue that create the groundwork for peace and recovery.

  “Just to dispel a bit maybe the image of humanitarian action as just giving out bags of rice. It is much more complicated than that.” (36:45)

• Ethio Jazz as Solace:
  Omaui recommends Ethio Jazz, especially from Addis, as a musical escape and a reminder of Africa’s vibrant culture.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On grassroots response:

  “The amount of sacrifice that this youth group are providing to save their people life... It's millions of dollars. They are doing a great job with it.” — Haneen Ahmed (03:51)

• On hope and the arts:

  “The song that I recommended to the listener is ‘Freedom is Coming’ by the South African singer.” — Haneen Ahmed (11:54)

• On ICRC neutrality:

  “Neutrality...is more of an operational principle... you need to have a degree of trust.” — Daniel Omaui (15:23)

• On knowledge vs wisdom:

  “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting a tomato in a fruit salad. The wisdom will have to come from the Sudanese.” — Daniel Omaui (20:53)

• On peace-building:

  “If international humanitarian law is respected... it boils down to keeping the dignity of the people, [and] will translate eventually into more solid peace processes.” — Daniel Omaui (32:48)

Cultural Recommendations

• Music:
  • “Freedom is Coming” by a South African artist (Haneen Ahmed, 11:54)
  • The vibrant sounds of Ethio Jazz from Addis Ababa (Daniel Omaui, 37:13)

Conclusion

This episode paints a complex, deeply human picture of Sudan’s humanitarian emergency. It highlights the remarkable agency and sacrifice of local actors, the critical—sometimes invisible—work of international organizations, and the imperative to build peace through dignity and participation. Both guests remind listeners that lasting solutions rely on Sudanese leadership and that every act of solidarity, advocacy, and art sows hope for the future.