On April 15, I woke up to the noise of my family in distress and many missed calls on my phone. War had broken out in Khartoum. Within hours, we heard the sounds of artillery, realizing we were stuck in the middle of a battlefield. we 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 my experience of being forced to leave my family home and my attempts to adapt to this new situation. Through this work, I try to explore and understand the psychological and emotional trauma received as a result of this war, as well as those around me. It is both a commentary on the mental state we are going through during this challenging time and indirectly a political commentary on the news and propaganda.
We fled to a village called Al-Hasaya, where my uncle offered us an abandoned house. We don't know what the next step is. It is a time of waiting and uncertainty.
Ahmed Khirelsid, born in 2001 in Omdurman, Sudan, is a photographer and visual storyteller who focuses on capturing the realities of life in his country. His journey into photography began during the Sudanese revolution when he was driven to document the fast-moving and often chaotic events around him.
Khirelsid's work is known for its emotional depth, particularly in portraying the effects of war and displacement. His project "Under Control," which won him the 2024 Contemporary African Photography (CAP) Prize, is a personal reflection on his experience of fleeing conflict in Khartoum. The project highlights the mental and emotional challenges faced by those caught in the turmoil of war.