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

Ambassador Mohamed Abdalla Idris Mohamed in conversation with Amb. Rama Yade
Hajooj Kuka, Founder of Refugee Club and the Director of Beats of the Antonov, in conversation with Amb. Rama Yade
Mohamed Abubakr, President of The African Middle Eastern Leadership Project (AMEL), in conversation with Amb. Rama Yade

Featured events

Featured commentary & analysis

Featured reports & research

All content

In the News

Jul 19, 2017

Atlantic Council Featured in The Hill on Sudan Sanctions

By
Atlantic Council

Read the full article here.

Sudan


New Atlanticist

Jul 14, 2017

Is it Time to Take Sudan Off the State Sponsors of Terrorism List?

By
Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council report recommends review of designation as part of an effort to energize ties US President Donald J. Trump’s administration should conduct a long-overdue review of the designation of Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism, according to a new report from the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center. The Clinton administration designated Sudan a state […]

East Africa
Sudan


Event Recap

Jul 14, 2017

Report launch: Sudan: a strategy for re-engagement

By
Africa Center

On July 14, 2017, the Atlantic Council’s Sudan Task Force launched its latest report, Sudan: A Strategy for Re-Engagement by Ambassador Mary Carlin Yates with Kelsey Lilley. Atlantic Council Vice President and Africa Center Director Dr. J. Peter Pham welcomed attendees and introduced the panel’s work. The panel, which included Task Force members Ambassador Mary […]

Africa
East Africa


Report

Jul 14, 2017

Sudan: A strategy for re-engagement

By
Mary Carlin Yates with Kelsey Lilley

Despite Sudan’s checkered diplomatic history with the United States, the Trump administration has an opportunity to recalibrate what could be a constructive relationship in a critical part of the world. In determining what a successful US-Sudanese relationship could look like, the administration has an opportunity to both serve US interests in Sudan and beyond and […]

Africa
Civil Society

In the News

Jul 12, 2017

Pham Quoted in Sudan Vision on the Campaign to Lift Unilateral US Sanctions

By
Peter Pham

Read the full article here.

Sudan

In the News

Mar 7, 2017

Pham Quoted by Foreign Policy on Business in Sudan

By
J. Peter Pham

Read full article here.

Economy & Business
Sudan


New Atlanticist

Sep 28, 2016

South Sudan’s First Vice President Blames Roads, Criminals for Blocking UN Efforts

By
Ashish Kumar Sen

South Sudan’s First Vice President Taban Deng Gai blames the absence of roads, the presence of criminals, and weak governance structures for the obstruction of UN peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts in his country. Deng spoke in response to a confidential report from United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to the UN Security Council that […]

East Africa
Sudan


AfricaSource

Jun 8, 2016

Sudan Still a “State Sponsor of Terrorism”?

By
J. Peter Pham

The Secretary of State is required by law to provide the Congress with an annual “full and complete report” on terrorism. The Country Reports on Terrorism covering 2015 was released last week and makes for some interesting reading, its conclusions eliciting reactions ranging from alarm to bemusement to, quite simply, befuddlement. An example of the latter […]

Sudan

In the News

Apr 26, 2016

Pham Quoted by Christian Science Monitor on the Peace Process in South Sudan

By
Peter Pham

Read the full article here.

East Africa
Sudan

In the News

Apr 26, 2016

Pham Quoted by the Washington Post on the Peace Process in South Sudan

By
Peter Pham

Read the full article here.

East Africa
Sudan