The Face of Truth: Farewell, Darkness of Worry…
Ibrahim Shaglawi
In the ongoing failure of Sudanese political parties to capitalize on the fall of Al-Bashir’s regime, a new scene emerges, revealing these forces’ persistent manipulation of facts for narrow political gains. The recent statements made by Mubarak Al-Fadil, leader of the Umma Reform and Renewal Party, on Al Jazeera Mubasher regarding alleged proposals submitted by the country’s leadership to the international community—suggesting a limited role for Hemedti and rejecting any role for Abdalla Hamdok—highlight the extent of political and partisan opportunism and confusion in the country.
While political forces accuse the military of seeking totalitarian rule, they themselves have failed to present a unified vision or genuine national leadership, instead resorting to smearing opponents and distorting public awareness. This ongoing contradiction, built on lies and misinformation, reflects nothing but a prolonged political crisis that hinders any real prospect for democratic transition in Sudan.
The relationship between security and democracy has long been a deep philosophical dilemma, raising a fundamental question: In moments of major transitions, which should come first—state stability or the freedom of choice? In ideal contexts, democracy is seen as the ultimate path for governance, where the citizen holds sole decision-making power, choosing their leaders freely. However, when severe crises place nations before existential threats, priorities shift, ideological dreams fade, and practical necessities emerge, making security and stability the overriding concerns.
After Al-Bashir’s fall in 2019, the democratic dream was deeply rooted in the Sudanese people’s consciousness, but it quickly clashed with a political reality full of contradictions. The problem was never with democracy itself, but with the chaotic way political forces practiced it, demonstrating their inability to manage it responsibly. The parties wasted valuable opportunities to establish a stable democratic model, instead engaging in zero-sum conflicts, turning democracy from a tool for building the state into a burden on it.
At their weakest moments, these forces chose to seek foreign interventions, inviting a UN mission under the pretext of assistance, attempting to impose a “lawyers’ constitution” drafted outside the Sudanese people’s will, and promoting an isolated framework agreement. It became evident that the issue was no longer about democracy but about seizing national decision-making for colonial agendas that do not serve the country.
Today, we face a new equation that prioritizes security. In the political history of nations, societies have always shown an instinctive inclination toward strong authority when confronted with the threat of fragmentation. Security is the foundation upon which civilizations are built; without it, the state loses its fundamental function of protecting its citizens. In moments of chaos, people realize that freedom without a system governed by institutional controls leads to disorder, and democracy, in the absence of a capable state enforcing its authority, becomes an empty slogan. This philosophical perspective requires an awareness that transcends the ambitions of political parties, which seek power without demonstrating concern for the security of the country or its people.
In 2011, Egypt faced an unprecedented period of political and security instability. Deep divisions among political forces led to severe fragmentation and conflict, resulting in economic decline and rising security threats. As the country teetered on the edge of chaos, the military intervened in 2013, imposing a roadmap that prioritized restoring stability before returning to the democratic process through subsequent presidential and parliamentary elections. Today, despite differing opinions on what transpired, Egypt has managed to regain security and rebuild its economy, underscoring the importance of balancing stability and freedom.
Similarly, after the 1994 genocide, Rwanda’s leadership realized that rebuilding the state could not begin with direct multi-party democracy but required first imposing stability, reconstructing state institutions, and gradually moving toward political openness. Today, Rwanda is one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, having prioritized the principle of “security first” as a prerequisite for development and democracy.
On the international stage, China presents a different model, achieving an enormous economic renaissance without adopting Western-style liberal democracy. The Chinese Communist Party maintained its grip on power while ensuring political stability, enabling unprecedented development, and making China the world’s second-largest economy. These examples raise an important question: Is traditional democracy truly necessary for development, or is institutional stability the most critical factor in state-building?
Given these realities, it is unsurprising that Sudanese political parties have lost public trust, with many now viewing the military as the only institution capable of restoring national balance. According to the 2025 Constitutional Document, the military is tasked with leading the country through this phase with a new vision—one that does not replicate past failures but lays the foundation for sound governance, prioritizing security and stability as a prelude to a genuine democratic transition. This approach ensures that the state is not hijacked by failed elites or rogue militias.
Farewell, darkness of worry… Welcome, Sudan’s new dawn. The goal today is not to resurrect dictatorship, as some claim, but to establish a new framework that guarantees state stability without compromising the future of democracy. Just as security without freedoms leads to oppression, freedom without security leads to chaos. Between these two extremes, the state needs a cohesive transitional period to rebuild its institutions, establish a productive economy, and prepare the country for genuine elections within 39 months—elections in which the people can exercise their right to choose in a secure and stable environment.
This is the face of truth.
Wishing you well and in good health.
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Shglawi55@gmail.com