Aya Ibrahim

Sudan — Sudanese women are striving to rise again and continue their lives as normally as possible, despite the devastation caused by the conflict gripping the country.

As fighting continues between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023, the year 2026 arrives carrying hopes for peace, with women showing greater determination and resolve to overcome the challenges they face on all levels.

The year 2026 coincides with catastrophic humanitarian conditions faced by displaced women from the Darfur region in western Sudan, who have fled to Al-Afaf camp in Al-Dabba locality after the Rapid Support Forces took control of El Fasher. Large numbers of women were displaced to safer areas, amid documentation of 19 rape cases committed by the Rapid Support Forces inside the camp, according to a statement issued by the Sudanese Doctors Network.

A Year Branded by Peace

This year has been harsh and filled with pain for Sudanese people, as the conflict enters its third year with no solutions in sight. Yet, as the year draws to a close, hope shines among women for a year defined by peace.

Maha Ahmed, a lecturer at one of Sudan’s largest universities, says she believes the year will ultimately be crowned with peace. “Life will not stop in Sudan despite the circumstances it is going through. Women, who have been severely affected by the war, will welcome the new year with greater resilience, strength, and awareness,” she said, emphasizing that women remain the backbone of society and its safety valve, and that optimism is one of their defining traits.

“We Will Not Surrender to the Conflict”

For her part, Suha Al-Haj, an employee at the Humanitarian Aid Commission, confirms that despite its harshness, the years of conflict have shaped her and marked a turning point in her life. She has acquired many skills, including emotional intelligence, which she considers essential in helping individuals regulate their emotions amid the pressures of conflict.

She stated that the previous years taught her valuable lessons: “Nothing is difficult; what matters is how you start and your determination to succeed,” noting that many people now describe her as a woman of persistence and strong will.

Suha Al-Haj is not someone who surrenders to circumstances. She has plans for the coming year, seeking to organize workshops on change and adapting to the new year, as well as setting actionable plans to follow. She stressed the importance of promoting initiatives and raising awareness, while calling on relevant authorities to stand by women and support them in light of the violations they have endured.

Millions of women have been displaced from their homes due to the conflict, facing harsh living conditions in displacement camps. Prior to displacement, many were subjected to killing, rape, and the loss of livelihoods. Yet, despite all this, they continue to hope for a stable life as they welcome the year 2026, aspiring for security and peace to prevail across Sudan.

Safaa Tarek, who runs a restaurant in the Northern State after being displaced from the capital Khartoum, where she previously worked in the beauty sector, said: “I managed to start my life anew during 2025 alongside my mother, developing a food business. We succeeded in that. Things are going well toward building a future and a new life. We cannot surrender to the conflict and wait for it to end in order to live our lives.