Welcome to the Democratic Thought Project
A Sudanese non-profit initiative dedicated to connecting politics with knowledge, and democracy with development—by treating knowledge as a democratic product that redefines politics as the science of building society and the state.
Vision
نؤWe believe that knowledge is the foundation
of both democracy and development.
Mission
We aim to bridge politics and knowledge, and to empower rural and marginalized communities through dialogue, critical reading, and capacity building.
Top Programs
Reading for Change
A knowledge-based initiative launched in 2013 to promote a culture of democracy and human rights through grassroots reading circles across Sudan’s regions. The project has established over 1,200 reading groups and distributed 350,000 copies of more than 100 book titles. It is considered one of the most widely reaching knowledge initiatives in the country, grounded in the philosophy of community dialogue and awareness-building as essential foundations for deep and lasting political and social transformation.
Marifiyoon
A knowledge-driven social movement founded in 2019, emerging from the Reading for Change groups. It seeks to bring about transformative change in Sudan through the establishment of a just, democratic, and developmental state. The movement focuses on rural issues, environmental justice, women’s rights, and ending wars, embracing knowledge as the foundation of lasting change. It rises from the grassroots rather than the center, and opens its doors to all Sudanese who reject theocratic rule and aspire to a pluralistic, free, and equitable Sudan.
Al-Hadatha Newspaper
An independent political and intellectual newspaper launched in 2019 as part of the Democratic Thought Project, created to reflect the spirit of the December Revolution and the evolving realities of Sudanese society. The paper took a clear stand for democracy, the marginalized, and rural communities, publishing dozens of issues before its suspension following the 2021 coup. It remains a vivid archive in Sudanese journalistic memory—a unique experiment that combined objectivity, critical analysis, and openness to regional and global issues.
Al-Hadatha Magazine
A quarterly cultural, intellectual, and artistic magazine founded in 2016 as a knowledge arm of the Democratic Thought Project. It published thirteen issues before ceasing in 2021, following al-Burhan’s coup against the transitional civilian government. The magazine was distinguished by its critical content and exceptional visual richness, showcasing Sudanese artistic and visual works. Its website remains active and fully accessible, serving as a valuable resource for researchers and those interested in cultures of change and a vision of modernity rooted in creativity and the lived experiences of society.
“A nation that reads… is a nation that remains forever free.”
Reading for Change Groups
Publications
