Sudan War Series – Article 04
Working from Homelessness: Informal Livelihoods of Displaced Women in Port Sudan
The Sudan War series is a joint collaboration between the Center for Economic, Legal, and Social Studies and Documentation – Khartoum (CEDEJ-K), Sudan-Norway Academic Cooperation (SNAC)andAfrican Arguments – Debating Ideas. Through a number of themes that explore the intersections of war, displacement, identities and capital, Sudanese researchers, many of whom are themselves displaced, highlight their own experiences, the unique dynamisms within the larger communities affected by war, and readings of their possible futures.
Article 04 by Razaz Basheir
When war broke out in Khartoum in April 2023, the city’s population was estimated at nearly 9 million people. Khartoum was not only the political and bureaucratic centre but also the economic hub of the country, housing most of the nation’s physical infrastructure, service sector, and a majority of the factories in an industrial sector dominated by the food industry. The fate of this vast population, whose livelihoods were deeply intertwined with the city’s formal and informal economic channels, following the overnight disintegration of the city, remains unimaginable.
I trace the dynamics that shaped the livelihood experiences of the millions displaced from Khartoum by focusing on the stories of displaced women in the cottage industries, particularly cottage food production. Cottage industry is understood as home-based, low added-value production of goods such as textiles and processed food, using simple methods and tools. The homebound nature of this industry has historically led to its association with women and the marginalization of its importance as a means of livelihood and self-sufficiency. While traditionally considered a rural endeavour, its urban significance is rising due to the precariousness of communities in the rapidly growing cities of the global South. These cities have an increasing share of economic migrants, conflict, and climate-displaced people turning to a myriad of informal activities.
Read the full article here by Razaz Basheir.
OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
cedejsudan (25 juin 2025). Sudan War Series – Article 04. Researching Sudan - A perspective on contemporary Sudan. Consulté le 9 mars 2026 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/147ck
