A comprehensive Sudanese study has revealed that 93.2% of Sudanese support peace negotiations, a finding that participants described as “digital evidence refuting claims used to justify the continuation of the war in the name of the Sudanese people.” The Advocacy Group for Peace in Sudan (AGPS) said in a press statement that it presented the preliminary results of the study during a workshop attended by researchers, journalists, civil society representatives, and public policy experts. According to the group, the study was based on 1,668 online surveys, 30 in-depth qualitative interviews, and a random sample covering all 18 Sudanese states, in addition to Sudanese communities in Chad, Egypt, South Sudan, Uganda, the Gulf states, and several other countries. Dr. Issam Abbas, one of the study’s supervisors, explained that “the use of the Python programming language in data analysis, together with the stratified random sampling method, enhanced the reliability and scientific accuracy of the results.” The findings showed that 74.3% support an immediate ceasefire, 88.3% of those who favor a political settlement are willing to actively support it and Central Darfur State recorded the highest level of support for peace, at 94.7%. The study found that competition over power and wealth was viewed as the leading cause of the conflict, followed by the legacy of the former regime, marginalization, and foreign interference. It also found that 80.9% of respondents hold both branches of the military establishment responsible for the war, 79.2% blame the former regime and 73.7% blame armed movements. Confidence in peace agreements was low, with only 14.4% expressing high confidence, compared with 9% who said they had no confidence in such deals. The results further showed that 90% of participants demand accountability, while 8% favor a hybrid justice system combining national and international mechanisms. The study identified key red lines for any future settlement, including the rejection of Sudan’s partition, the existence of multiple armies, and ontinued military involvement in politics. Meanwhile, 77.9% of respondents said that social media is their primary source of information, while 93.4% believed that tribal and regional rhetoric poses a direct threat to citizenship and national cohesion. Dr. Asmaa Elnaiem, Executive Director of the Advocacy Group for Peace in Sudan and a member of the Executive Office of the Sudan Peace Appeal, said the results presented so far represent only about 20% of the full analysis. She noted that the study was designed to be expandable and regularly updated to reflect developments on the ground. Sudan has been engulfed in war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023. The conflict has killed at least 59,000 people, displaced around 13 million others, and pushed large parts of the country into famine. More than 30 million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance.
