When, Not If, Will This Disastrous, Absurd, Forgotten War End? (1-4)

Part One. Abdullah Yusuf Hamad Al-Nil. Introduction: In this four-part article, we attempt to review some of the reasons that led to the explosion of this disastrous war on Saturday, April 15, 2023, the repercussions of this war on the Sudanese people, its ultimate consequences, and the opportunities to stop it sooner rather than later... For as history has taught us, every war has an end, but the crux of the matter lies in 'when' we succeed in stopping it, not 'if' we will succeed? It will end on some future day, just as the American Civil War, the South African Civil War, World War I, and World War II all ended. It will end like the War of Basus between the tribes of Taghlib and Bakr bin Wa'il, which lasted for forty years, and just as the European war between Catholics and Protestants ended—a conflict that also lasted for thirty years and concluded with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, which birthed the nation-state with absolute sovereignty. However, in 2005, the Security Council passed its R2P (Responsibility to Protect) resolution, concerning the responsibility to protect civilians who are exposed to human rights violations within their own countries. After 2005, the authority of the state—any state—became relative rather than absolute. To investigate the causes, repercussions, and consequences of this disastrous war, we will attempt in this four-part article to review some of the relevant events during the period 2021–2026, examining each year of this period separately. Events of 2021? First: The year 2021 began with Sudan signing the Abraham Accords for normalization with Israel on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at the American Embassy in Khartoum, between Sudanese Minister of Justice Nasredeen Abdulbari and U.S. Treasury Secretary Mr. Mnuchin. A month earlier, in December 2020, Sudan's name had been removed from the U.S. State Department's list of State Sponsors of Terrorism. Later, in 2022, the American ambassador returned to Khartoum for the first time since leaving in 1998. Second: On Monday, January 26, 2021, the Israeli Minister of Intelligence visited Sudan, followed less than 24 hours later by the Deputy Commander of AFRICOM (United States Africa Command). This synchronization confirms the complete coordination and alignment between Israel and America, not only regarding Sudan but in all matters—the latest being the Israeli-American aggression against Iran, an Iran that threatens Israeli national security through its practical support for Hamas and the Palestinian cause. Have you noticed the Trump administration's attacks on Venezuela and South Africa? Only and exclusively because they support the Palestinian cause. Has Israel become more than an American state in its unlimited support from successive U.S. administrations? During 2021, the relationship between Sudan and America became sweet as honey and cream, and consequently, Sudan's relationship with the rest of the world improved. Third: In May 2021, the Paris Conference to support Sudan was held. The summit pledged to cancel or reschedule Sudan's debts, which exceeded the $70 billion barrier. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund pledged that once Sudan reached what they called the 'Completion Point' in June 2024, Sudan's dollar-denominated debts would become a big zero, and Sudan would be integrated into the HIPC (Highly Indebted Poor Countries) system, allowing it to benefit from free grants, concessional loans, and economic investments. At that time, Hamdok's government became the darling of the international community. Fourth: Hamdok requested a UN mission, under Chapter VI, to work toward a successful and complete democratic transition and to spread comprehensive, just peace throughout Sudan. Afterward, the German Volker Perthes arrived, strutting and laughing with his UN team. Fifth: This rosy atmosphere continued until Sunday, October 24, 2021. Then came the great calamity. On Monday, October 25, 2021, General Al-Burhan, under pressure from the Islamist military-intelligence establishment, staged a military coup. By doing so, he dissolved the partnership with the Central Council of the Forces of Freedom and Change—a partnership created by the Constitutional Document on Saturday, August 17, 2019, following the victory of the 2018 revolution. Al-Burhan's coup was against everything in the interest of Sudan and the Sudanese people... against Hamdok's civilian government, against the Constitutional Document signed by all Sudanese forces on Saturday, August 17, 2019, against the partnership between the military and civilian components during the transitional period, against democracy, against the forces of the revolution, against comprehensive and just peace, and against a full democratic transition... Yes, Al-Burhan's coup was against everything that was in the interest of Sudan and the Sudanese people. We continue in the second part.