On February 24th, 2026 at 5 pm Brussels time, Pax Christi International, in co-sponsorship with The Journal of Social Encounters, invites you to a timely and urgent conversation: “Sudan: Possible Paths to Peace?”. Over the past years, Sudan has endured one of the most severe humanitarian and political crises in the world, its suffering too often overlooked by the global community even as displacement, human rights violations and violence continue to escalate.
In the spirit of solidarity and committed to human dignity and nonviolence, Pax Christi International has consistently called for inclusive peace processes, protection of civilians and renewed commitment to justice for the people of Sudan.
This webinar builds on that work. Bringing together leading analysts, advocates and peacebuilders, we will reflect on the current situation, explore the vital role of nonviolent action and civic engagement, and examine the international dynamics that continue to shape the conflict’s trajectory.
We are grateful for your participation and trust that this conversation will deepen our collective understanding and strengthen our shared efforts toward a just and lasting peace in Sudan.
Pax Christi International continues its work of raising awareness and sharing information on Sudan and the country’s difficult situation. In 2025, we organised the Sudan Speaks webinar series, issued a statement supporting the situation of women in Sudan and took part, on 11 April, in the World Day of Prayer for Peace in Sudan.
Agenda
Moderator: Mawa Abdelbagi Osman Mohamed, Pax Christi International Sudan Working Group
🔹 5′: Welcoming and Introduction
Speaker: Martha Inés Romero, Pax Christi International Secretary General
🔹 15′: “Overview on Sudan’s current situation”
Speaker: Gabriel Mad, Independent Researcher in Politics and International Relations
🔹 15′: “Nonviolence and the Path to Peace in Sudan”
Speakers: Marija Marovic, Executive Director of Gisa Group, and Zahra Hayder, Founder and Ececutive Director of Waei Organization
🔹 15′: “Illegal Arms and Resource Flows into Sudan and How to Stop Them”
Speaker: John Prendergast, Human Rights and Anti-Corruption activist
🔹 20′: Q&A
Moderator: Giulia Bordin, Pax Christi International Advocacy Officer
🔹 5′: Closing Remarks
Speaker: Martha Inés Romero, Pax Christi International Secretary General
🔹 3′: Thank you and campaign announcement
Speakers
🔹 Gabriel Mad is an independent researcher in politics and international relations. He holds a master’s degree in Politics and international relations from the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies in Doha, Qatar. And he holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Al Neelain University in Khartoum, Sudan.
He has published numerous academic studies and newspaper articles in both Arabic and English. His latest publications are “Democracy Under Fire: The Battle Between Negotiation and Military Force in Sudan’s Two-Year Civil War”, and an opinion piece on the war in Sudan in Arabic. His research focuses on the Horn of Africa region, with a particular focus on Sudan, South Sudan, Peace, Security, and Conflict Resolution.
🔹Zahra Hayder Ibrahim is a lifelong Sudanese activist. She is the founder and executive director of Waey Organization which works on social change in Sudan. Zahra is a founding member and the trainer for the African Coaching Network (ACN) and a member of the African Rising Movement.
In her daily work, through training and facilitation, she supports young activists and movements in Sudan and Africa to address challenges that limit their work in building peace, representative and just societies. She is oriented towards building coalitions regionally with other African peoples to confront racism, hate speech, discrimination and corruption.
As a trainer she specializes in the topics of civic education, anticorruption, democratic dialogue, community mobilization, advocacy campaigns, team and coalition building. She co-authored the report “Sowing the Seeds of Nonviolent Action in Sudan”, published by the United States Institute of Peace.
Waey Organization is the recipient of the 2024 NED Democracy Award.
🔹 Marija Marovic is an executive director of Gisa Group. With over 20 years of experience of working in closed and closing environments she has supported numerous formal and informal groups in their advocacy for human rights and expansion of civic space in East Africa, Eastern Europe and Eurasia. She is a former Director for Freedom House and International Republican Institute in Kenya.
She has researched civic spaces in closed, semi-closed and closing environments, analyzing strategies employed by local civil societies to foster mobilization and civic participation in political processes. Together with Zahra Hayder she co-authored the report “Sowing the Seeds of Nonviolent Action in Sudan”, published by the United States Institute of Peace.
🔹 John Prendergast is a U.S. human rights advocate focused on peace and anti-corruption efforts in Africa. He served on the National Security Council and at the United States Department of State, contributing to major African peace processes. He later co-founded The Sentry with George Clooney. He is the author or co-author of eleven books, including Congo Stories and Not On Our Watch.
Date and time
📅 Tuesday, 24 February 2026
🕓 5:00 PM Brussels time (6:00 PM Khartoum – 11:00 AM New York – 11:00 AM Bogotà)
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