Al-Fashir… The Nation’s Open Wound
By Dr Amal Al-Sheikh – Psychologist
The fall of the city of Al-Fashir was not an ordinary episode in Sudan’s war; it was a defining moment that shook the very soul of the nation. Al-Fashir is not just a city in the west of the country — it is a symbol of human resilience, a haven that sheltered the displaced and the seekers of safety for many years. When its defences collapsed under destruction, something deep within the Sudanese spirit collapsed with it — as though the entire nation received the same wound.
A Collective Shock to the National Psyche
What happened in Al-Fashir transcends politics and military events; it struck at the depths of the human psyche. People everywhere felt grief and disbelief; social media turned into spaces for collective mourning. The shock was too great to be captured in words, as feelings of denial, anger, helplessness, and fear of what lies ahead merged in the nation’s collective consciousness.
Many followed the news with trembling hearts, while others lost the ability to speak — as if the shock had frozen their emotions and closed the windows of hope inside them.
Symptoms of the Sudanese Trauma
The psychological trauma manifested itself in people’s daily behaviour: in long, sorrowful gazes, in the insomnia that visited eyes every night, and in questions that found no answers.
Women who had lived through war before said that the scenes revived in them the memories of their first displacement. Children who once only heard stories of bombing and killing are now living them in reality.
Even those far from Darfur — in Khartoum or abroad — felt that the fall touched something deep within them, for Al-Fashir represents a shared national memory, a symbol of dignity and endurance.
Roots of the Pain
The anguish did not arise from this single event alone, but from the repetition of tragedy in a country exhausted by decades of conflict.
The fall of Al-Fashir revived images of genocide and displacement that people thought belonged to the past.
Loss of contact with loved ones, the interruption of news, and the haunting images coming from the destroyed city — all have fuelled feelings of grief and uncertainty.
It is as if time has turned back to remind the Sudanese that the wound has never truly healed, and that memory remains open to the pains of yesterday.
An Impact Beyond Borders
The shock did not stop at the borders of Darfur; it reached every Sudanese home, both inside and outside the country.
Family gatherings turned into long silences, and phone calls into exchanges of tears and consolation.
In some cities, people organised donation drives and symbolic support campaigns — an attempt to repay a city that once sheltered them.
Yet behind this beautiful solidarity, the painful questions remain:
Where is this nation heading?
And is there a path out of the cycle of violence and destruction?
Towards Healing and Building Resilience
Despite the depth of the wound, the Sudanese spirit still holds astonishing seeds of resilience.
Healing is possible — but it requires time, willpower, and collective effort.
There must be a focus on psychological support, especially for women and children, and the launch of community-based programmes involving art therapy and creative expression.
Storytelling, writing, and painting can serve as tools of healing — just as medicine heals the body.
People also need safe spaces for release, communication, and the building of solidarity networks that restore hope and trust in life.
Conclusion
The fall of Al-Fashir is not merely an entry in the chronicles of war; it is a milestone in Sudan’s history of pain.
But it is also a call for reflection, an opportunity to reconsider what homeland and humanity truly mean.
From beneath the rubble, hope can be born again; from trauma, a new awareness can emerge — one that drives the pursuit of peace.
Al-Fashir, despite her wounds, will remain alive in our hearts — reminding us that we are a people capable of rising, no matter how deep the injuries, because, quite simply, we love life despite everything.
And let us not forget to send a salute of pride and honour to our brothers in the Armed Forces, the joint forces, and all who support them, as we pray for mercy upon our martyrs — both soldiers and civilians — and healing for the wounded.
Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=8391