CAP Prize – Under Control
Ahmed Khirelsid

On 15 April, they woke up to the noise of their family in distress and many missed calls on their phone. War had broken out in Khartoum. Within hours, they heard the sounds of artillery, realising they were stuck in the middle of a battlefield. They had to leave. Death, violence, political and economic instability, upheaval, and doubt have become inherent to the Sudanese people in the last five years, from the revolution to the pandemic to the military coup in 2021. Under Control is a personal project that documents their experience of being forced to leave their family home and their attempts to adapt to this new situation. Through this work, they try to explore and understand the psychological and emotional trauma received as a result of this war. It is both a commentary on the mental state they are going through during this challenging time and also indirectly a political commentary on the news and propaganda. They fled to a village called Al-Hasaya, where their uncle offered them an abandoned house. They don’t know what the next step is. It is a time of waiting and uncertainty.  

Presented by CAP Prize

Year of production: 2024