2019 was historic for Sudan as the country went through a tumultuous youth and women-led protest movement, with social media playing a key role.

To assist development agencies and the Government better understand the views of Sudanese at home and abroad, this report uses social media data to gauge Sudanese sentiment and opinion between January – November 2019. Using publicly available, anonymized data, it captures themes, activities, and responses before, during and after the transition, as well as exploring the role of women.

“An active presence of citizens on social media during the transition can help cement the new social contract,” said UNDP Sudan Resident Representative Selva Ramachandran, “ensuring mutual accountability between the State and citizens, and that demands of citizens remain at the core of the transition process.”

While acting as a chronicle of the revolution and transition, documenting the main demands of the protest movement, it also validates the experimental approach utilized by UNDP for near real-time social listening.

This validation sets the scene for on-going and near real-time reporting of Sudanese citizen and diaspora sentiment. Alongside more traditional opinion tools under development by UNDP Sudan’s Accelerator Lab, these offer relevant office bearers, supporters, and partners of Sudan the ability to gauge perceptions and sentiments.

UNDP intends to continue to listen to Sudanese citizens’ concerns, and play a supportive role to the Government of Sudan in addressing their aspirations for meaningful participation, inclusive development, and peace.

View the report here