The Rule of Law: The Concept of Opposition

By Dr Abdel Azim Hassan – Lawyer

A protest mentality, or what is often called “negative thinking,” cannot build a nation. When a country enters the stage of civil war, politicians face a decisive test: distinguishing between legitimate political opposition and actions that pave the way for the destruction of the homeland.

The absence of this distinction has allowed regional and international actors to exploit divisions and use them against Sudan.
The war of 15 April 2023 exposed the depth of foreign interventions and revealed the involvement of local forces that, driven by spite, ended up—whether knowingly or unknowingly—supporting a rebel militia. Sudan’s reality cannot withstand half-measures or veiled justifications; silence in the face of rebellion is nothing but a cheap political tactic. Every drop of blood spilt and every city destroyed remains a debt upon the forces that took shelter in temporary alliances in pursuit of short-term gains.

Since the outbreak of war, independent revolutionary groups have declared their rejection of the Janjaweed rebellion and insisted on the dismantling of the militia. Even the radical current, despite its hesitation for fear of being branded Islamist, has in recent statements expressed clear opposition to foreign interference and externally imposed solutions. For all the reservations surrounding its stance, it is still closer to the national interest than other political forces that have chosen silence or feigned neutrality—and some have even extended tacit support to a militia committing atrocities in full view of the world.

War imposes upon all a duty to place the homeland above rivalries. A state built on the rule of law cannot be founded upon manoeuvres or shady deals, but upon principled positions. The key to ending the war lies in recognising the reality of what is happening and naming it plainly: rebellion. Had political forces called things by their proper names from the start, the road would have been open to halting the war and uniting the national front. The question remains: do these forces have the courage?

The protection of citizens and the safeguarding of national sovereignty must take precedence over all other considerations. Anyone unable to condemn rebellion openly does not deserve to be entrusted with a homeland, nor with the future of its people.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=7816