Long time since I wrote my last article about what is going on in the political landscape of my bleeding country, Sudan. It is because I have been inflicted by a sort writing fatigue that has crippled or paralyzed my hand from writing. Another reason is that, my writings have become a source of anger and agitation. They provoked indignation of some of my friends and relatives. Many people are reluctant to understand that we, all, are coming from different social, cultural, economic, political, ideological, religious, and spiritual backgrounds and these different backgrounds shape our ways of thinking and our ways of seeing the world around us. Many friends, colleagues, and relatives want me to see the world the way they see. They want me to be a carbon-copy of their thinking, a sort of identicalism, which is absolutely impossible and unbecoming. Therefore I decided to hide myself for a while. Now time of this ‘while’ is expired. So please, let us respect our diversity in thinking and seeing. Our diversity enriches and empowers our togetherness and oneness. We, in Sudan, are in a dire need of a national project that manages and administers our diversity in a way that serves and supports our joint efforts towards actualizing our shared vision. Sustainable peace and sustainable development will never become a reality in Sudan until a national project for diversity management becomes a reality in Sudan. When you see your people wallowing in shallow and meaningless differences and trivial issues and things and that their leaders are totally adamant not to listen to any piece of advice of any kind from anyone or anywhere, wisdom and logic advise you to calmly withdraw yourself and resort to cocooning yourself in a hiding place and play a role of an objective observer until you see where the cat will jump.
Sudan is the only country worldwide where any idiot can lead these unfortunate nations. Such idiot leaders will doubtlessly lead their peoples to the abyss. Idiot leaders are the source of our suffering and dilemma. More than 70 years have passed since we gained our political independence where its idiots are still at the helm of leadership driving us aimlessly to nowhere.
Putting the right ladder against the right wall is the way out. It is the panacea of our ailments. It is the only pathway towards the welfare of the Sudanese people. Unfortunately, our idiot leaders are utterly confused about which one is the right ladder and which one is the right wall. I can rephrase it in another term “they don’t even bother.” They got stuck in the stagnant swamp of triviality and nonsensicality of the so the so-called “war of dignity” while the entire Sudanese citizens are victimized as a result of this futile war. Which dignity takes the precedence, the dignity of the Sudanese citizens or the dignity of the Military Establishment? If the Military Establishment dignity takes the precedence and priority, then the war will endlessly continue and the victimization of the unfortunate Sudanese citizens will, likewise, continue endlessly. War is a bad thing, peace is a good thing.
No for War, Yes for Peace.
Mahjoub Saleem Gaddal
Kampala