Sudan is one of the richest countries when it comes to natural resources, and Mona Abulgasim Seifeldin Samine of Karthoum says she is determined to protect them—even in the face of violent conflict within her country.

Mona is an environmental science specialist who served the government for 10 years. She has been responsible for the environment and waste management at the governor's office in Khartoum, and she previously served the Sudanese government as environmental inspector. Mona also works with the Sudan National Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) committee, an effort by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to get civil society involved in climate action.

Mona usually attends the UN climate conferences and participates in climate process as part of a Sudanese governmental delegation, but due to the political instability (the war in Sudan), it is unclear whether or how Sudan will form a group for the next climate conference. Omega, which has obtained UNFCCC accreditation, is committed to supporting her attendance in order to bolster her work. 

Omega has offered to include her in its delegation to COP28—the 28th UN Climate Change conference, held this year in Dubai—if a Sudanese delegation is not possible this year. The Omega Center for Sustainable Living (OCSL) is also raising funds to help pay for Mona’s travel costs and to support her ongoing work.

In a recent conversation, Mona explained why protecting Sudan’s rich natural resources is critically important to stabilizing the country.

“There are a lot of activities that are not sustainable, such as gold mining and mining of other rich minerals,” said Mona. “There are not solid regulations in place here related to the environment. For example, we don’t have air and water quality standards or regulations, and this can make it difficult to stop the private sector [mining companies] and the government, legally.”

She said mining and other industrial and development projects in rural areas, or poorer places, affect flora, fauna, and natural resources. She also added that it is affecting people's health.

"Socioeconomic studies, conducted before projects are developed, are crucial," she said. "It's about human rights."

Mona believes the need to make institutional reform in Sudan is a top priority. As an environmental scientist, she pushes the agencies in Sudan to regulate laws that will effectively protect the environment and control the pollution that results from developmental projects.

“We need to do something to stop them, not by force, but by making new institutions,” she said. “The first thing we need to address is legal reform. Second, we have to make institutional reforms. Third, we have to focus on humankind. The people working for the environment need to have academic training and certification on how to manage the environment.”

Mona has the training; she holds a master’s in environmental technology from Omdurman Ahlia University and has been working professionally on environmental issues and climate for six years. As an ACE national committee member, she and other committee members hold a special role in helping to integrate climate change and environment into the formal school curriculum. She also participated as a group member in addressing and issuing the environmental aspects of the Juba Peace Agreement.

The Work Continues Amidst Famine & Poverty

Sadly, the Sudanese are dual victims of war and the climate crisis. Mona is trying to make connections between political stability and saving the environment. As conflict rages on, resources are being deteriorated and depleted. 

“Even before the war, we faced a lot of technical issues regarding the best practices of design and implementation of projects to deal with climate change, so sharing experience and exchanging programs is very important. Now, there are a lot of displaced people, a lot of injuries. They need all the help they can get to overcome the crisis of war.”

“We have to think responsibly to enhance the quality of life in postwar Sudan,” she said. 

Despite the challenging situation in Sudan right now, Mona remains adamant about continuing her work on climate, safeguarding the work she has done through the national committee on climate action, and also her private training program for the rural community about human rights. She wants to discuss best practices that need to be learned by the community if they are to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. In the meantime, she doesn't want her country to be absent from climate negotiations and progress at the global level. 

“We face many problems in accessing the materials and information related to climate action. We face language barriers and knowledge barriers. Climate action is not a responsibility of just the authorities, it needs to be done in cooperation with everyone in the community.”

Participating in the Decision Making 

When Mona’s colleagues graduated, they started to build their own associations to make a new era for the environmental sector and environmentalists. In her position as vice president of the Sudanese Environmentalists Association, she leads a broad civilian group that is pushing for the change in civilian democratic rule in Sudan. 

“We drafted an environmental law compatible with the new vision of good governance," she said. "We also drafted an environmental specialist council law for issuing professional licenses, and proposed a Sudanese environmental strategy that is ready to implement. We are now part of the Sudanese Professional Associations and have representation on supreme council.”

Through this work, Mona envisions a post-war future in which much work will be needed to pick up the pieces in regard to the environment and climate change. 

“If you want to govern the country, you have to have a new vision compatible with the global standards of good administration," she said. "I encourage everyone who has such a vision to go to the decision-making areas to improve the previous situation, to address environment and climate change."

Mona is eager to continue attending the UN climate conferences, adding her voice, and gaining knowledge. She believes international exchange and interaction between Sudan and the rest of the world is critical in order to face challenges and to generate new ideas, experience, and knowledge.