The Last Article… Sudan: The Bamboo Tree
Retired Police Brigadier General Omar Mohamed Osman
The Chinese liken the bamboo tree to patience, saying it teaches one how to wait. Its seed is planted in the ground, and the farmer tends to it day after day, watering and fertilizing it for five whole years, seeing nothing but the dormant silent soil.
But in the fifth year, something like a “green explosion” occurs; it sprouts suddenly, piercing the earth towards the sky with astonishing speed, reaching a towering height in just a few weeks. Those five years were not wasted, but rather the building of roots, a silent struggle beneath the rubble, in preparation for a great leap forward.
And so it is with Sudan today, a bamboo tree in the form of a nation. The harsh years of war passed like lean years of patience. Some thought the land was empty, that the seed had died. Cities were destroyed, factories shut down, and people were displaced, but the nation, in bending before the storm, was nothing but a gathering of strength, not a surrender to the wind. But what the world didn’t see was that Sudan’s roots were working silently and resolutely. Deep in the earth, the roots of will and belonging extended. In villages and exile, in camps and schools, in relief committees and grassroots initiatives, and in the steadfastness of the army, police, and intelligence services, Sudan’s roots were growing discreetly. These institutions proved themselves to be true “partners of stability and guarantors of continuity,” defying the winds and preparing the nation for its greatest day of resurgence.
All of this was preparation for a genuine launch; for just as bamboo cannot grow tall without firmly rooted trees, Sudan cannot be rebuilt without consolidating its unity, restoring its self-confidence, and instilling in its citizens the belief that reconstruction begins with building the human being before reconstructing buildings.
Today, as we look forward to the dawn of the post-war era, Sudan—like bamboo—stands on the threshold of a soaring launch. It will rise from the rubble because its roots are deeper than the destruction, stronger than any militia, and more genuine than any claim. This land has given birth to men and women who have mastered the art of survival and skillfully crafted life from the depths of pain.
For over a thousand days, I have witnessed a nation grappling with chaos, writing with unwavering honesty about what my eyes and mind have seen. I have accompanied the steadfastness of the armed forces in defending the homeland, the efforts of the police in maintaining security, the missions of the intelligence services in safeguarding stability, and the sacrifices of civil society in healing wounds. Throughout this time, I have been an analyst and a narrator, a voice of genuine hope and optimism, painting a picture of a nation that knows no defeat, its heart beating with life despite the storms.
And today, after this long journey, it is time for a “warrior’s rest.” I gather my belongings and return to the embrace of my homeland to begin a new phase of building and giving, with the same patience and steadfastness that the bamboo tree taught me. I return with my homeland as my purpose and starting point; I seek not an old seat or a long-awaited position, but a field of giving befitting a citizen who believes that sustenance comes from the Creator and that working for the sake of humanity is the highest of goals. My only concern is Sudan, my family, and everything I can offer to my country and loved ones.
Today, I conclude this intellectual and professional journey, grateful to every sincere heart that followed and every mind that cared. You were my companions on this path, and my inspiration to persevere. I hope we will meet soon in the embrace of our homeland, where the true story of building a better Sudan begins, and where the roots of Sudan will flourish in the skies of freedom and hope.
My final message: Hope exists, optimism is a right, and the homeland deserves every drop of sweat and effort.
I conclude with a reverent prayer: O Lord, send Your blessings and peace upon the Chosen One, his family, and his companions forever, a prayer whose fragrance surpasses musk, perfuming and illuminating all of existence.
Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=10807