Kampala – (May 29, 2025)
The “Kampala Cultural Week” concluded with a symposium titled “The Humanitarian Situation in Sudan Amid the War,” organized by the Sudanese Group for the Defense of Rights and Freedoms in partnership with the Darfur Victims Advocacy Organization and the African Organization for Rights and Development. The event took place at the headquarters of the latter on Nsalo Drive in the Bukesa area of Old Kampala.
The discussion was opened by Adam Rashid, a member of the Sudanese Group for the Defense of Rights and Freedoms, who revealed a dire deterioration in health conditions, highlighting “the spread of malnutrition and malaria, along with mysterious diseases suspected to be linked to chemical weapons usage.” He emphasized that humanitarian aid is “a fundamental right for war victims under international humanitarian law, not an act of charity,” holding the international community and the United Nations historically responsible in this regard.
Journalist Faisal Mohamed Salih, former Minister of Information, provided an in-depth analysis of the roots of the crisis, stating that “the war is a result of a power struggle within authoritarian systems that reject plurality, not a tribal conflict as promoted.” He pointed out that it has turned into a tool for strengthening the influence of armed groups.
He added, “It is a grave mistake to reduce the situation to a binary of heroes and villains, as personal experiences—such as those who lost their families—shape perspectives beyond political affiliations.” He urged human rights institutions to “reject selectivity in assigning responsibility and to hold all parties accountable: those who ignited the war, trained militias, and countries that supplied weapons.”
Political activist Ahmed Abdel Majid warned about the United Nations’ classification of the crisis as “one of the worst unprecedented humanitarian disasters,” revealing that 8.6 million Sudanese have been displaced, and the healthcare system has collapsed in 70% of the affected areas. He stressed that foreign interventions have turned Sudan into a battleground for proxy conflicts, calling for a unified Arab and African stance to stop the bloodshed.
The symposium concluded with urgent recommendations, including the establishment of cross-border humanitarian corridors, referring violations to the International Criminal Court, and digitally documenting war crimes. The cultural events will continue until June 3, featuring art exhibitions and film screenings that depict civilian suffering.
Would you like me to refine or summarize the translation further?
