Questions Before Returning (1-2)

Umaima Abdullah

As many Sudanese families prepare to return—some before Ramadan, others after—institutions are working to restore operations, and state governments are striving to rebuild basic services.

The rapid collapse of the Janjaweed and mercenaries, thanks to the Sudanese Armed Forces’ strategic military plan, has sparked joy among the people. The longing for home is rekindled, and dreams of return are awakening.

Sudanese are gathering what they can to return to cities left desolate by militias. Youth have already started the journey back, leading cleanup efforts. Meanwhile, political factions are scrambling to secure their share in a post-war government, navigating internal divisions and constitutional amendments. Others are focused on assessing the realities awaiting society upon return.

Communities across Sudan will face a stark reality—massive infrastructure destruction, fractured social ties, and widespread distrust. Many will be shocked by the devastation: ruined streets, homes, schools, hospitals, and looted residences stripped of valuables, from gold and savings to even electrical wires.

For those who had painstakingly furnished their homes with years of earnings, the loss will be devastating. Families will return burdened by sorrow—war, displacement, financial hardship, and shattered dreams. The sight of battle remnants, fallen mercenaries, and lingering devastation will be unbearable.

Children will bear the weight of helping their parents cope with this grim new reality. Some families will return incomplete, having lost loved ones to disease, trauma, and war’s brutality. A deep, hidden sorrow will accompany their homecoming.

Those who remained endured violence, bombings, and the psychological torment of coexisting with mercenary militias. No one who encountered such horrors will escape unscathed—memories of fear and suffering will leave lasting scars.

How did such hatred and destruction take root in the hearts of the Janjaweed and militias? Were they once among us, walking our streets, sharing our meals?

Sudanese society has undergone radical changes. Just as famine alters eating habits, war reshapes trust, relationships, and personal traits. Peace turns to anger, a thirst for justice, and a need for immediate retribution beyond the slow wheels of the legal system.

Upon return, tensions will rise. Families who aided militias may be forced to flee, perhaps never returning. Questions will linger—who helped the mercenaries loot and humiliate? Who betrayed their neighbors? Divisions will deepen between victims and perpetrators, and the wounds of stolen rights will not be forgotten.

Sudan must act now to address the complexities of return. If left unresolved, these challenges will shape the nation’s future.

We will continue, God willing…

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