Episode 4: Kholood Khair
Show notes
In this episode, host Rob Malley and guest Kholood Khair examine Sudan’s war, the international failures to stop it, and the urgent need to elevate civilian voices in the push for justice, democracy, and lasting peace.
Kholood Khair is the founder and director of Confluence Advisory, a ‘think and do tank’ founded in Khartoum, that works on three priority policy areas: peace and security, economy, and governance. This year, Kholood is part of the inaugural Yale Peace Fellows working on inclusive peace.
In Sudan, during its short-lived transition to democracy, Kholood also hosted and co-produced Spotlight 249, Sudan’s first English language political discussion and debate show aimed at young Sudanese.
Kholood career has, for almost two decades, spanned the fields of research, aid programming, mediation and policy in Sudan and across the Horn of Africa. She has written research and analysis pieces for several international publications and has provided analyses for research and policy institutions worldwide. Kholood has briefed the UN Security Council twice, as well as testified in the US Congress, twice and UK Parliamentarians.
The host: Robert Malley is a seasoned diplomat and conflict resolution expert with decades of experience in international affairs. He has served in senior roles under multiple U.S. administrations, including as Special Envoy for Iran and as a lead negotiator for the Iran nuclear deal. He is a senior fellow at Yale University and the founding director of the Yale Peace Fellows program.
This episode is part of a 4-part interview series with Yale’s 2025 Peace Fellows. Find out more about the Yale Peace Fellowship: Yale Peace Fellowship – Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs