Independence and the “Rabble”

Rashid Abdel Rahim
All Sudanese today celebrate the 70th anniversary of independence, with the sole exception of Hemedti and the Rapid Support Forces.
These rabble have placed themselves outside the circle of the Sudanese people, openly declaring their position and strategy beyond the State of 1956, seeking to erase it from existence. Yet the state itself affirms to them that denying their own history and country will never secure them victory.
They will not triumph over our people. Our loyal soldiers, raising the flag of Sudan on the battlefields yesterday in Al-Dibeibat, Habila, Kazgail, Al-Riyash, Al-Hammadi, and the crossroads of the Dilling road in Kordofan—areas they liberated at the dawn of this blessed anniversary—stand as proof.
Sudanese celebrate as good news continues to arrive from Kordofan and from Yemen, where the sponsor of the rebellion, the UAE, received a powerful blow from sisterly Saudi Arabia, which forced it into a humiliating exit from Yemen after destroying its military supplies to separatist groups.
A 24-hour ultimatum was issued for the withdrawal of its forces from Yemen; gripped by panic, it withdrew after just eight hours.
It departed alongside its exposed lies, claiming that the destroyed ships were carrying aid to Yemen.
It departed having confirmed that its war was not against terrorism or Islamists, but against Muslim and Arab brothers in the Gulf, and against Muslims in Sudan, Libya, and Somalia.
With independence, Sudan affirms the truth of its claim and the soundness of its principled position against separatists in Sudan and everywhere else.
Hemedti remained silent on Independence Day greetings, while Ali Karti congratulated the Sudanese people—the very figure Hemedti had declared his foremost enemy—only for it to become clear that Hemedti himself is the enemy, and that those he opposes are the true patriots.
As children, we used to celebrate national holidays by carrying flags, swept by elation as we listened to the great anthems on television and radio, rejoicing with Mohamed Wardi as he sang:
“Today we raise the banner of our independence,
History records the birth of our people,
O my brothers, sing for us.”
Television and radio have faded, and with them our appreciation of lofty and beautiful values.
Today, the rebellion—through its own foolishness—revives in our minds and hearts noble values that unite Sudanese.
Today, longing returns to the souls of Sudanese, stirred by the melodies and tunes of Aisha Al-Falatiya, Al-Atbarawi, Abu Dawoud, Wardi, Othman Hussein, Sayed Khalifa, Ibrahim Awad, Umm Balina Al-Senussi, Al-Balabil, and all who composed for their country and sang for it—supporting it with word and melody, not with fighting and rifles, as does the Janjaweed singer of “Firaq Al-Ghawali”, Ibrahim Idris, who shifted from music to gunfire, only to perish in war—just as all their warped meanings and corrupted values perish within the soul of the Sudanese people.
Today, we celebrate, and our steadfast army gladdens us with victories.
Salute to all its brave soldiers and officers.
Through them, Sudan returns—free and strong.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=10064