Despite huge challenges they have been facing within a society that does not recognize gender equality, Sudanese women are achieving the highest possible standards in education and work.
Khartoum, Altaghyeer: Amal Mohammed Alhassan
The challenges faced by Sudanese women are many. Examples of these challenges are the status of the country which ranks 172 in the UNDP world’s human development index, tribal conflicts that added to women burdens, sexual violence, compulsory and child marriage, FGM and barriers to reach financial resources and educational opportunities.
The Revolution’s gains
Women participation in the protests of December 2019 Revolution, that led to the demise of Beshir regime, has served as an inspiration for the whole world.
The Sudanese women are dubbed “Kandaka”, a reference to Sudanese queens who ruled during the Nubian Era thousands of years ago.
After the Revolution women assumed four higher positions within the executive including that of Foreign Minister, the first time ever in the history of country.
International successes
Many Sudanese women who received world class education and job opportunities have succeeded in reaching higher posts in many fields, showing their ability to excel when conducive environment is secured.
Following are examples of these women:
Mazahir Salih
Sudanese Engineer Mazahir Salih was elected Deputy Mayor of the U.S Iowa City for 2020-2022. She was the first Sudanese-American woman elected to hold public office in the United States.
Before this post she was elected member of Iowa City Council for her unabated efforts in serving the cause of minorities in the US.
Salih migrated to the U.S after graduation as engineer from the Sudan University of Science and Technology. Her first station was the State of Virginia where she worked in several jobs. Then she and her family moved to Iowa in 2012 where she studied a rare medical specialization in the University of Iowa.
She is known for her support for workers rights and advocacy for more accessible and affordable housing.
Widad Alahboub
Sudanese scientist and astrophysicist Prof Widad Almahboub has been featured on the international “Who’s Who” list as one of the most notable world scientists and astrophysicists.
She is thought to be the first woman in the Arab region to obtain high scientific and academic status in the United States of America.
She works as an aerospace scientist at NASA and a professor of applied mathematics in Hampton University, the State of Virginia.
Fatima Khamis
Sudanese engineer Fatima Khamis is the only woman working in wireless technology with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic.
She was selected in 2020 by the United Nations Population Fund among a group of women considered the most creative and distinguished in the Arab world during COVID-19 epidemic.
The peacekeeping mission has described her as “an extraordinary woman. She broke through all traditional and cultural barriers achieving success in a field in which women are typically underrepresented”.
Hind Altahir
She studied French language in Sudan and traveled to France where she became a vocalist.
She sings Sudanese songs in renewed performance assisted by her husband who is a French musician.
She said in press statements that her husband encouraged her to study sound technologies and the couple formed a musical band.
Abir Ibrahim
Abir is a young Sudanese woman known for being dynamic change-maker on social and economic development.
She worked for UN agencies. She was appointed as consultant in the Tanzanian authority for health and safety in rural areas in 2014.
Abir has contributed in promoting local and global dialogue on gender issue for the coming generations and women role in development.
She contributed to establishing a school for 540 vulnerable girls in the Sudan’s rural areas.
She was the first Sudanese to be invited by the Commonwealth heads of state summit to speak about good governance.
