BBC Recognises Two Sudanese Women Among World’s 100 Most Inspiring and Influential Women

Two Sudanese women, Hala Al Karib, a Sudanese women’s rights activist and Regional Director of Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network, and Dr Safa Ali, an obstetrician and consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at Al-Saudi Maternity Hospital, have been recognised in the BBC 100 Women, which is BBC’s annual list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world.

The BBC revealed its list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2024 on 3 December 2024. Among them are stranded astronaut Sunita Williams, rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot, actress Sharon Stone, Olympic athletes Rebeca Andrade and Allyson Felix, singer Raye, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, visual artist Tracey Emin, climate campaigner Adenike Oladosu and writer Cristina Rivera Garza.

‘From facing deadly conflicts and humanitarian crises in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine and Sudan, to witnessing the polarisation in societies that followed a record number of elections around the world, women have had to dig deep and find new levels of resilience. BBC 100 Women acknowledges the toll this year has taken on women by celebrating those who – through their resilience – are pushing for change, as the world changes around them. The list also remains committed to exploring the impact of the climate emergency, highlighting climate pioneers who work to help their communities tackle its impacts,’ stated the BBC.

Hala Al Karib

Hala Al Karib is a women’s rights activist, writer and regional director of Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network. Alkarib leads programmes that spotlight gender-based violence in the wider region. Since war broke out in Sudan in April 2023, SIHA has been tracking conflict-related sexual violence, providing support to women and girls.

As stated by the BBC, ‘an October 2024 UN report warned of the “staggering” scale of the problem, and accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of “atrocious crimes”, accusations the RSF dismissed. The report estimated that at least 400 survivors of conflict-related sexual violence had been referred to support as of July 2024, describing this as “the tip of the iceberg”.’

Al Karib’s work focuses on women and girls in conflict and post-conflict regions, minorities, refugees, and displaced persons. She worked in Sudan, South Sudan, Eastern, and Horn of Africa for over 20 years for various international and regional development and humanitarian institutions.

She is also the editorial head of the SIHA annual journal ‘Women in Islam’, an annual journal published by SIHA that focuses on gender relations and women’s rights within Muslim communities in the Horn of Africa. She often writes on women’s rights and social justice issues and the politics of the region for media outlets such as OpenDemocracy, Al Jazeera and The New Humanitarian Pambazuka and The East African. 

Earlier this year, multinational news channel CNN named Al Karib among the world’s 30 gender equality defenders as part of their International Women Day 2024 As Equals story.

Dr Safa Ali

Dr Sara Ali is an obstetrician and consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at Al-Saudi Maternity Hospital, the last hospital serving the people of Al Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur. It is partially functional due to the heavy shelling it endured in the ongoing war that erupted in April 2023. Al Fasher has been under siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for months. 

Little is known about Dr Ali, but according to the BBC, ‘when heavy fighting broke out near her hospital in Sudan last year, Safa Ali refused to leave with her colleagues, despite the constant shelling. A consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology, she helped evacuate volunteer staff and pregnant women to a safer location, amid violent clashes between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Currently at Al-Saudi Maternity Hospital, the obstetrician performs Caesarean sections and treats women’s health issues under the challenges posed by ongoing conflict. She also continues to train about 20 newly graduated female doctors in obstetrics to help mitigate the shortage of medical personnel.’

For more information or to see the full list, visit bbc.co.uk

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