Georgetown Qatar conference draws attention on crisis in Sudan

Doha: Georgetown University in Qatar (GU Q) yesterday opened its Hiwaraat conference season with a well attended gathering centred on the humanitarian...

Doha: Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) yesterday opened its Hiwaraat conference season with a well-attended gathering centred on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

The three-day conference themed “Seeing Sudan: Politics through Art” is aimed at offering an alternative approach to the ongoing situation by creating a historic gathering of Sudanese creatives to call attention to the crisis through other means. The opening event, which was graced by the presence of the Chairperson of Qatar Museums H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Lolwah Al Khater, commenced with a focus on addressing the ongoing tragedy in Sudan.

During the opening remarks, Dr. Rogaia Abusharaf, a Sudanese professor at GU-Q, emphasized the role of artists in shaping Sudan’s political awareness, stating, “‘Seeing Sudan’ embodies our endeavour to explore the essence of a nation… The Sudanese populace has been engaged in relentless struggles for survival for many years, and any hopes for even a hint of normalcy have been systematically obliterated.

GU-Q Dean Safwan Masri added, “At a world-leading school of foreign service, art rightfully claims its place as one of the languages of diplomacy. It is why this conference finds its natural home not only at our university but also in Doha, a cosmopolitan city long defined by the cultural richness of its diaspora.”