Born to a forcefully discharged diplomat father and an activist mother, Sudanese cartoonist Khaled el Baih was perhaps destined for activism.

His work, which he publishes on his Facebook page, 'Khartoon' -a contraction of his native capital Khartoum and 'Cartoon'- has drawn the attention of admirers across the Middle East and beyond. 

Here are a few examples of his piercing reflections on world happenings.

Khalid's cartoons were popularized during the Arab Spring.

His work has been used by activists and graffiti artists and redrawn on banners across the Arab world

He was nicknamed the Arab Spring's cartoonist by AJ+

He was exposed early in life to political and social issues - his father was fired by Sudan’s military government when he was 6 years old

His greatest inspiration was the Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali, an artist renowned for his politically charged drawings

His scope isn't just limited to political affairs in the Middle East. His pen has touched on social issues and global events as well...

Such as the Charlie Hebdo attack and its repercussions, as well as U.S. President Donald Trump's rise to power to name a few

"I don't know if cartoons can change the world, but we can certainly try."

Khaled will be speaking at STEP Conference in Dubai this April.
You can get more information about the conference, see more speakers and buy your tickets here.