The Sudanese civil war through my eyes

Photograph of Alaa Salah's during a protests against President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan has swept through social media. Credit Lana H. Haroun / Via Twitter: @lana_hago

22-year-old college graduate, Nadia, reflects on the Sudanese civil war and what she hopes for her country moving forward.

Four years ago, the people in Sudan began taking the streets protesting against the rise of the violent military regime. Watching from afar, I struggled between strong feelings of frustration and hopefulness. As a child of the diaspora, my experiences with Sudan have been rather intimate and defining. While most of my family either resides abroad or is in Sudan, we have played our individual roles in supporting the movements across the country for years. 

Today as I observe the current political situation of Sudan, I relive my experiences as a child in a version of home that does not currently exist. 

I recall being barely six or seven years old when we would take weekly trips to Mayo city, a small province within Khartoum with my friends. Just last year, my family had taken a trip to our village back in a small town in Sudan, able to safely explore the rich cultural diversity of the country’s indigenous regions. Streets were flooded with students, families, and market goers. Even in turmoil, home has been a haven for the many who sought refuge in it, including those who made peace with Sudan despite its issues. Today, its streets are empty. Homes have been emptied out, leaving an unrecognizable place. The hardest part is knowing that when I return someday, it won’t feel the same.

In 1993, Sudan’s former president, Omar Al Bashir, became the seventh head of state for the republic. His term capitalized on separating the country into ethnic categorizations, which would result in the genocide of hundreds of thousands of Indigenous populations across the regions of Darfur, South Sudan, Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains. The aftermath of these massacres has created a divided Sudan, one that is still struggling between an Arab and African identity. In 2019, Sudan underwent a military coup where president Bashir was overthrown by civilian and military leaders. Soon after, a transitional government took power and worked hard to bring democracy to the country. As the world watched on, Sudan became a symbol of hope, change, and political fulfillment for other struggling countries.

The highlight of these movements was not only the fall-down of Bashir, but also the courage of demonstrators, journalists and young people who sacrificed their lives protesting in the streets. Viral videos of girls chanting before crowds of thousands began to circulate, reaching as far as Europe and even here in the United States. The uprisings became the pinnacle of a “blue” profile picture movement across the globe to honor the life of Mattar, a protester who passed away in the crossfire between civilians and military police and so many others just like him.

“The people of Sudan simply want a safer country that recognizes all Sudanese as one. A Sudan that honors the voices of its indigenous and migrant populations. A Sudan where justice and peace is restored. ”

— Nadia M.

Today, Sudan is at a crossroad. Recently, Sudan’s two most influential military leaders Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as “Burhan” and “Hemedit” began a violent military campaign against indigenous people in western Sudan, in Darfur and against those living in Khartoum, with attacks against the other densely populated regions across the country. Mass human rights violations have become widespread, with most hospitals bombed out of service and local citizens fleeing to neighboring cities or regions. The international community has turned a blind eye to the atrocities happening, leaving vulnerable populations to fight for justice at the expense of their lives.

Earlier this year, there was an eerie political aftermath in Khartoum, after the antagonistic military leaders promised to start a new campaign of attacks against those in Darfur. Some believed it was an overexpression of violent rhetoric, and others started making preparations to escape. Dating as far back as before Ramadan, the cases of those gone missing and nowhere to be found has been huge. The conversations about home are bitter and the politicians are being targeted by the government-backed Rapid Support Forces (also known as the “RSF”).

In a period where it seems like the entire world is going through a difficult time, the sentiment of those left at home is hopelessness. After nearly 40 years of genocide, conflict, and unrest, we ask ourselves, when will things better? Who will save Sudan? More importantly, who will support us to fight for ourselves, if no one decides to come save those caught in the crossfires?

The young and old; boy and girl; Arab and non-Arab; teacher and farmer alike have begun to challenge the generations long-status quo that divided Sudan. We have been unifying to speak up, and finally realizing that Sudan needs to change for all of us and the new generation of leaders, innovators, and scholars. The question that remains is, how?

While the future remains uncertain, one thing is clear. The bravery of those in Sudan, especially women who have suffered generations of abuse, is at large and immeasurable. In the aftermath of the violence, there has been a deficit of government services that provide essential healthcare and nutritional provisions to local civilians. The people of Sudan simply want a safer country that recognizes all Sudanese as one. A Sudan that honors the voices of its indigenous and migrant populations. A Sudan where justice and peace is restored.

We want our children to be treated the same regardless of where they come from and to be given the same opportunities to become leaders. We deserve a future just like everyone else.

Safety is the pinnacle of development and justice back home and right now it is the last thing that is felt by those who are in Sudan and watching from afar.

There are various ways to support those in the country, such as sharing fundraising campaigns to help provide medical services to those wounded and in need of critical care. There is also the option to sign support for different initiatives that seek to raise attention to what is happening. The last and perhaps most important way to help is by sharing the media of what is happening in Sudan and calling attention to UN officials and those in Washington, DC to ensure the policies being passed are comprehensive and address all the different faces of war.

There is a bright future ahead for the young leaders of Sudan that is waiting. We can all help play an important role in fostering the potential of that future.

Editor’s note: Nadia M is a pseudonym.