4th annual conference of the Independent Movement in Birmingham, UK

08:31 AM August, 30 2016

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Conference Invitation
Independent Movement (IM)
4th Annual Conference
“Mobilization, Engagement and Change”
September 30th –October 2ed, 2016, Birmingham, UK

The IM is pleased to invite you to it fourth conference which will bring together Sudanese from the Diaspora and representatives from civil society organizations from all over the world to explore and discuss opportunities and strengths related to mobilization of the Sudanese diaspora and their engagement in a positive change in Sudan and their adopted countries.
The Conference will feature speakers, panelists, artists who are working actively to promote and inspire positive change. Likewise, IM’s conference panels, workshops, working lunches, and banquet dinners will focus on issues of importance to the Sudanese Diaspora, including civil society and human rights. We will celebrate our achievements and discuss how we can take actions to transform problematic issues into viable solutions.
The conference discussions and results will be taken forward to shape further strategic framework of the IM, and seeks develop the work of the organization in mobilizing and engaging the Sudanese Diaspora based on experience of its members, research findings and recommendations of the Sudanese diaspora.
The IM conference will explore and discuss opportunities for genuine collaboration of Sudanese diaspora organizations and their efforts to support human rights’ actors and activists inside and outs side Sudan.

The opening of the conference and individual sessions will be informed by a series of keynote speakers and guests, such as:
Prof. Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil,
Former head of the Sudanese Parliament (1986 -1989),

Dr. Luka Biong Deng
Policy advisor on the affairs of Sudan, South Sudan in areas of poverty, vulnerability, famine, civil wars, constitution-making, and state-building.

Omer Ismail
Policy Advisor to several agencies working in crisis management and conflict resolution. And many more.

The conference will comprise:
1. Insights into Sudanese diaspora efforts to affect change in Sudan.
2. Presentation of IM report for 2014 – 2016
3. Conference recommendations for strategic work for 2016-2018
4. Expert discussion on challenges for interrelation between North and South Sudan
5. Panel discussions to explore spaces for collaboration.

We look forward to meet with you in Birmingham.

Respectfully Yours,
The IM executive Office.

The Independent Movement is and active movement of Sudanese Diaspora committed to support people’s rights and a democratic change in Sudan. The movement was formed in London in UK in May 2012 and officially registered as a non-governmental organization in Stockholm in Sweden.

Conference Guest

Luka Biong Deng



(South Sudan, Norway, UK and Australia)
Luka Biong Deng (DPhil) is also a Global Fellow at Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Associate Fellow at Carr Centre for Human Rights Policy at Harvard Kennedy School and a fellow at Rift Valley Institute. He is a recognized expert on the affairs of Sudan, South Sudan in areas of poverty, vulnerability, famine, civil wars, constitution-making, and state-building.
He served for five years as a Minister in the Office of the President of South Sudan and as a National Minister of Cabinet Affairs of the Sudan until he resigned in May 2011 after Government of Sudan invaded Abyei, his home area, in May 2011.
He also worked as a Senior Economist for the World Bank. He received his PhD in 2004 from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at University of Sussex, UK and earned a Master of Arts in Economics and a Master of Business Administration from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium and BSc (Honours) from Faculty of Economics and Social Studies at University of Khartoum, Sudan. He has published scholarly articles in a wide array of international journals and contributed with many chapters in various books.
Mr. Deng (DPhil) was a Director of Centre for Peace and Development Studies at University of Juba, South Sudan. He is also in charge of Kush Inc., a non-profit Organisation promoting peace, stability and development, with a particular focus on South Sudan and Abyei area.

Omer Ismail
Senior Enough Advisor

Omer Ismail was born in the Darfur region of Sudan. He has spent over 20 years working both independently and with international organizations on relief efforts and human rights. Omer fled Sudan in 1989 as a result of his political views. He helped found the Sudan Democratic Forum, a think tank of Sudanese intellectuals working for the advancement of democracy in Sudan. In addition, he co-founded the Darfur Peace and Development organization to raise awareness about the crisis in his troubled region. He currently works as Policy Advisor to several agencies working in crisis management and conflict resolution in Africa. He was a Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University’s Carr Center for Human Rights Policy.