Security and stability have returned to the localities of Omdurman, Karari, and parts of the Bahri locality. People are happy, for the first time, with the return of civil and social life. They are happy to see the police present in markets, main streets, and roads, and they are delighted to see traffic officers managing vehicle movement and issuing traffic violation tickets. One of my friends, who recently returned to his safe haven in Omdurman, told me that when he saw a traffic officer at an intersection in Omdurman, he did not feel scared or flee to another road, as was the usual practice. Instead, he approached the officer directly, embraced him, and shed a tear for the return of civil life, security, and the peaceful atmosphere.
He said: “I told him: ‘Where’s the ticket? Give it to me. I’m ready to pay even more if necessary,’ because he didn’t have a driver’s license but had his passport and vehicle ownership certificate. We both laughed, and we laughed a lot with some murmurs.
The life, with all its harsh and difficult details, was what people experienced after the fall of President Bashir’s regime. Despite the suffering and hardship, there was security, shelter, and neighbors who missed you and greeted you with peace, love, and morning greetings.
Yesterday, the news reported that the Civil Defense Forces had extinguished a fire at the National Assembly building, which the militia had set deliberately as a result of a targeted bombing from their position. I paused at the news with a sense of satisfaction and joy. Yes, indeed, at least there is a sign of the return of civil life despite the challenges. The “fire truck” appeared in full gear, with its brave crew dressed in their impressive uniforms, in Shari’ al-Mourada, moving swiftly and responsibly. They passed through the Omdurman locality, where the police station, known as “Kemandaniya” and a historical part of Omdurman’s heritage, is located.
This Civil Defense force was among the first to return to service after the war had stopped it. It returned with the return of life to Omdurman after the army had cleared it of the militia’s presence. They worked shoulder to shoulder with citizens, executing many community programs and services, providing drinking water to several residential areas that struggled to access it, as well as to hospitals. They also carried out sanitation operations, disinfection of health institutions and government facilities, corpse collection and identification, and inspection of war-affected homes.
As for the behavior of the militia, which has recently begun setting fire to government, service, and residential buildings, this is a predictable action from those who are not connected to the memories or history of the place, as they are strangers in both face and tongue. After the army began surrounding them on all sides, they started setting fire to every landmark in Khartoum in every area they controlled without exception. They began by burning the Al-Fateh Tower, the National Museum, the Nile Tower, the Petronas Tower, the Presidential Palace, the Arabic Market, and more. This is what local media and trusted online sources reported.
They began burning everything in their path in an attempt to escape from the army, which had surrounded and trapped them. It is said, according to popular narratives, that burning and erasing the traces of life is ingrained in the culture of this militia. It serves as a “signature they boast of leaving behind,” saying to the people and the world: “We were here!” in an act of degradation, tyranny, and crime.
We read in the early days, when we first started engaging with books and writing, about the adventures of the charming thief “Arsène Lupin” and his amusing, clever tricks, where he would leave a mark (an identity card) at the scene of his heist to say he had been there. In this case, the man was keen to narrow down the circle of suspicion so that no one would accuse anyone else, until Inspector “Ganimar” or the great detective “Sherlock Holmes” arrived at the scene, and the mystery began to unravel, starting with searching for fingerprints that would reveal the criminal. Those were bright days and beautiful times… Anyway, the man stole with a love for social justice and good values, taking from the rich to give to the poor. This, of course, raises philosophical and ethical debates that this article cannot fully address. But let’s return to these militias, who know neither values nor ethics. They are certainly not like the charming thief, because their ideology is destruction, ruin, and fire, which are the main signs of their actions.
This behavior, deeply rooted in immorality and corruption, as well as tyranny, is one of the key reasons Sudanese people have rejected dialogue with them and opted for military resolution. This led to the phrase that still carries its implications: “It’s just enough.” Anyway, we used to think that the Jeddah Agreement with the militia in May of last year, aimed at saving Sudanese lives and restoring security and peace, would put an end to the suffering of the Sudanese. However, it is clear that the current wave of frustration with the militia’s actions is widespread, to the point that discussions about Jeddah have become a thing of the past, after the army regrouped and began regaining territory.
Nevertheless, the face of truth remains: the importance of condemning this criminal behavior by the militia, which involves setting fire to the property of the Sudanese people. We also call on people to return to their homes, because it represents a return to life and to the homeland that the scoundrels of politicians attempted to seize while the rightful owners of Sudan were negligent, unaware that history is vigilant and does not accept deception or exploitation.
Stay well and safe.
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
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