“Omdur-Aman”: A journey through war, displacement, and resilience in Sudan

Before the war, I lived in Omdurman, a town I call Omdur-Aman—a place of peace. It sits at the head of the Nile and has long been a center of Sudan’s cultural and artistic identity. And so, despite the rising tide of economic hardship in the lead up to the war, I stayed—rooted in my love for our traditions, committed to my students, and driven by a vision for my research.

The six years leading up to the war were an extraordinary and deeply transformative period in Sudan’s modern history, marked by intense social and political upheaval. All Sudanese people were profoundly affected by the rapidly shifting landscape—a roller coaster of change. A transition period that also brought about remarkable support for and expansion of scientific research. Personally, I was fortunate enough to receive two grants that allowed me to establish a specialized lab. For a moment, there was hope in the midst of uncertainty.

Then, in April 2023, during the holy month of Ramadan, war erupted.

The sounds of gunfire, airstrikes, and shelling replaced the rhythms of everyday life and brought my academic work to a halt. We believed that it would be short-lived, but as days passed and the city descended into terror, it became clear that we are in the middle of a destructive war. Overnight, my sole priority became the safety of my family. We hid in interior rooms and under beds. We hid inside for fear of death, as there was no guarantee of survival. After 35 days, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) came to our neighborhood in Omdurman and with them our last hopes of remaining in our place of peace vanished. We locked our doors and began sleeplessly organizing our escape. The last two nights in my house were the most terrifying moments of my life.

With the help of a former student, we fled to northern Sudan and eventually to Egypt. The journey was one of the most painful and terrifying experiences of my life—navigating RSF checkpoints, being turned back at the Egyptian border, and enduring 10 months of legal obstacles. After waiting three days under the scorching sun of Haifa, we were finally cleared to enter. On that bus ride to Cairo, I felt safe for the first time since leaving our home, but I also felt a sense of loss and the pain of instability. It was like losing a part of my dignity and identity.

Now at my host university, my family and I feel tremendously supported. The kindness and generosity with which we were met made a profound difference which has allowed us to begin to heal. And for the first time, I have been able to refocus, reconnect, and reclaim my identity as a scholar.

Yet, the devastation in Sudan continues. The higher education space has been overwhelmed, universities looted, infrastructure destroyed, and students displaced. Those who remain struggle through electricity shortages and poor internet connections. Scholars in exile face parallel struggles—loss of credentials, professional identity, and financial insecurity. Nevertheless, sparks of resilience remain. Scholars refuse to succumb to their circumstances, actively creating new opportunities and workarounds to the crippled infrastructure in Sudan through informal networks, online platforms, and academic groups.

To the global higher education community, I say this: we need help. We need more international partnerships, inclusive research networks, funding, and mentorship. I hope that the global higher education community will respond with compassion, understanding that every displaced academic wishes to rebuild a future for Sudan and its next generation.

I dream of a Sudan where higher education is seen not only as a tool for employment but as a vehicle for national, healing social justice, and peacebuilding. When peace returns, I hope students return not just to finish their degrees, but to shape the future of Sudan with the knowledge and resilience they gained through survival.

– *Ashraam, scholar of biomedical science from Sudan (published under a pseudonym)

Host a scholar: We encourage all SAR network members to consider inviting scholars, including those from Sudan, to your campus for a visiting academic appointment. If your institution can host a threatened colleague, please review this list of over 60 scholars who are seeking placements and contact SAR staff at hostingatSAR@nyu.edu for more information.

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