Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a catastrophic conflict that has generated the world’s largest displacement crisis, forcing nearly 16 million people from their homes. More than 30 million people now urgently require humanitarian assistance, while the collapse of health, education, and economic systems has left millions without access to essential services. Amid this breakdown, atrocities continue unabated—including sexual violence, mass killings, and ethnic cleansing and trade unionists and workers’ rights defenders are being systematically targeted, imprisoned, or killed for their commitment to democracy, justice, and human dignity.

Sudanese trade unions have long stood at the forefront of the struggle for democracy, workers’ rights, and social justice. Workers played a decisive role in the 2019 revolution that ended decades of dictatorship under Omar al-Bashir, demonstrating the power of organised labour to drive democratic change.
Today, these same unions and workers face relentless repression: leaders have been detained, threatened, and killed for defending workers’ rights and advocating for a civilian-led democratic transition. Workplaces have been destroyed, and the right to organise has been gravely undermined.

On this Day of Action, ITUC-Africa, together with the Africans Rising Movement and trade unions across the continent, issues the following demands:
1. Immediate Ceasefire: All parties must stop hostilities without delay. The violence must end now.
2. Full and Unimpeded Humanitarian Access: Aid agencies must be granted immediate, safe, and unrestricted access to all parts of Sudan. Millions are facing starvation, disease, and death—assistance cannot wait for political negotiations.
3. Protection of Workers, Trade Unionists, and Civil Society Activists: The targeting of trade unionists, human rights defenders, and civil society actors must stop. Those defending democracy and workers’ rights must be protected. All detained union leaders and activists must be released immediately.
4. Return to a Civilian-Led Democratic Transition : Sudan’s future must be shaped by its people. We demand a return to a democratic, civilian-led transition involving trade unions, women’s organisations, youth groups, and broader civil society.
5. Justice and Accountability: Sustainable peace requires justice. Those responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable.

ITUC-Africa urges the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, and African governments to demonstrate principled leadership and take urgent action to resolve this crisis. Africa cannot stand by while one of its largest nations descends further into chaos.

We call on the African Union to convene an emergency summit on Sudan and to launch robust mediation efforts with clear timelines and accountability measures. We also call on African governments to use their diplomatic leverage to pressure warring parties and external actors to cease hostilities.
The sovereignty and stability of Sudan are essential to Africa’s collective security and prosperity. Regional instability, mass displacement, and humanitarian crises do not respect borders—what happens in Sudan affects us all.

Today, trade unions across Africa are organising solidarity actions, holding vigils, observing moments of silence, and raising awareness on the Sudan crisis. From workplaces to public squares, from union halls to social media, African workers speak with one united voice: Stop the War in Sudan!

We call on workers everywhere to join this movement—share information about Sudan, urge your governments to act, support humanitarian efforts, and stand with Sudanese workers fighting for their rights and their future.
We call on all people of conscience—in Africa and around the world—to demand an end to this senseless war. Silence is complicity. Inaction is betrayal. The time for decisive action is now.

Signed

Akhator Joel Odigie
General Secretary
ITUC-Africa
Lomé, Togo