Sudanese womens nonviolent struggle and leadership in the December revolution

This study examines the motivations and multifaceted contributions of Sudanese women during the December Revolution (2018 to 2022), with a focus on their nonviolent resistance and feminist mobilization. It investigates the drivers behind women’s participation in mass demonstrations. It also explores the diverse forms of engagement, including grassroots organizing, artistic expression, legal advocacy, and diaspora support, conducted at Ahfad University for Women in Omdurman, Khartoum State, between April and November 2022. The research targeted active women’s groups involved in the revolutionary movement. Using qualitative methods, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and secondary literature, the study captures lived experiences and historical context. Findings reveal that women were driven by a desire to dismantle a repressive regime, particularly the public order law, and to advocate for gender justice, legal reform, and inclusive political representation. Their civic resistance extended to displaced communities and was amplified by diaspora networks. The study situates Sudanese women’s activism within frameworks of contentious politics and feminist theory, affirming their role as central architects of democratic transformation. Key words: Sudanese women, feminist movements, nonviolent resistance, civic activism, December revolution, diaspora engagement, legal reform, gender and politics, contentious politics.