About the project
The third largest country in Africa, Sudan sits at the intersection–both geographically and culturally–of the Arab and African worlds and, as such, exerts great influence in a turbulent region. In the wake of longtime president Omar al-Bashir’s removal from power in April 2019 by a democratic revolution, and the ensuing turbulence, the country remains pivotal. In a region where numerous global and regional powers have sought to be influential, in recent years the United States has adopted a policy of engagement–rather than isolation–as it seeks to promote positive change in Sudan.
The Atlantic Council is engaged in a longstanding effort to raise the profile of Sudan. For nearly 10 years, via a Sudan Task Force, the Africa Center has focused its work with the goal of acknowledging Sudan’s geo-strategic importance. This work includes visits to the country, research reports by our experts, hosting Sudanese voices at the Council, and providing recommendations for policy makers in Washington and beyond.
See the work of the Sudan Task Force here:
Voices of Sudan
Featured events
Featured commentary & analysis
AfricaSource
Nov 25, 2025
El Fasher is only the latest wake-up call to the genocide unfolding in Sudan
By
Rama Yade
Sudan’s civil war has become one of the world’s deadliest crises—and the massacre in El Fasher exposes a genocide unfolding in plain sight. As regional powers fuel the war, millions face famine, displacement, and systematic violence.
New Atlanticist
Sep 19, 2024
The Sudan crisis has become a magnet for foreign malign influence and strategic corruption
By
Andrea Currie-Edwards
To help bring about an end to the war in Sudan, the United States should stem the illicit activities of foreign actors fueling the conflict.
MENASource
May 11, 2023
Experts react: Sudan at the crossroads—where the conflict goes from here
By
Benjamin Mossberg, Alia Brahimi, Thomas S. Warrick, Shahira Amin, R. Clarke Cooper
Atlantic Council experts react to the conflict in Sudan and discuss how it will impact the region and beyond.
Featured reports & research
Issue Brief
Mar 8, 2018
Sudan: Soft power, cultural engagement, and national security
By
Tim Carney and Mary Carlin Yates
The third paper in the new Atlantic Council Sudan Task Force series, “Sudan: Soft Power, Cultural Engagement, and National Security” examines the importance of people-to-people engagement and its relevance to broader US strategic aims in Sudan. More than two decades of isolation have succeeded in funneling Sudan’s best and brightest to seek higher education and […]
Issue Brief
Mar 8, 2018
Sudan: Prospects for economic re-engagement
By
Jeffrey Herbst
The second paper in the new Atlantic Council Sudan Task Force series, “Sudan: Prospects for Economic Re-engagement” examines the possibility of a new era of US economic cooperation with Sudan, including an opportunity for the United States to push for desperately needed economic reforms as part of wider US bilateral engagements efforts. Authored by Dr. […]
Issue Brief
Mar 8, 2018
Sudan: Politics, Engagement, and Reform
By
Johnnie Carson and Zach Vertin
The first paper in the new Atlantic Council Sudan Task Force series, “Sudan: Politics, Engagement, and Reform” examines the political landscape in the country in the wake of renewed bilateral engagement, addressing questions of governance, inclusion, and reform. Co-authored by Ambassador Johnnie Carson and Zach Vertin in collaboration with the Council’s Sudan Task Force, the […]
