While Sudan wrestles with a simmering conflict that has continued for its 3rd year in a row, South Sudan, its erstwhile neighbour encounters insurmountable challenges that tie arguably to its very foundation as a state. The tragedies of the Sudans have received little to no attention from the international community, both in moral, socioeconomic, and political terms. However, what is even more worrying is that epistemic understandings of such complexities have since occupied the backseat.

As is often the case during armed conflicts, priorities tend to focus on short-terms diagnoses—i.e., humanitarian approaches, such as the provision of necessities and the pursuit of peace and diplomacy. While these are critical (though currently in short supply in both), the Sudans’ internal contradictions extend beyond these moral callings. A more in-depth understanding of the region, rooted in both local epistemologies as juxtaposed with international/regional perspectives, is ripe.

This event convenes a diverse range of highly respected individual researchers and academics who are well-versed in the Sudans to spotlight epistemic perspectives that may have historical and intellectual bearings on contemporary tragic moments in the Sudans. The speakers are drawn from a wide range of scholarly fields with a priority on lived perspectives and critical epistemologies to highlight the undercurrents that may be presently misunderstood.

About the speakers:
a) Mr. Albino Gaw Dar: Sociologist & Head of the Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Faculty of Economics & Social Studies, University of Upper Nile, Juba — South Sudan
b) Dr. Matthew Sterling Benson-Strohmayer: A Social & Economic Historian in the Conflict & Civicness Research Group (CCRG) at the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE).
c) Dr Naomi Pendle: Lecturer in the Department of Social and Policy Sciences, the Centre for Development Studies, at the University of Bath. She is a prolific researcher and writer on South Sudan, researching issues of in times of conflict and famine.
d) Dr. Douglas Johnson: A revered historian of the Sudans better known for his historical/intellectual role in the Sudanese peace processes and the Abyei Question between 2003-2011.
e) Mr. Matai Muon: Doctoral Researcher whose research focuses on the political economy of oil in South Sudan with a keen attention on Unity State, an oil-producing region.