Face of Truth: The Police Boots and the Radiant Eid Days
Ibrahim Shglawi
In a video clip circulated on social media platforms in Sudan, a police colonel, believed to be the Director of Jabal Awliya Police, appeared addressing his troops during roll call. He spoke in a tone blending sternness with humor about the importance of adhering to the official uniform and the familiar police appearance. He said: “We brought you this boot to wear. Yes, it’s hot, but after a while, your foot will get used to it. And by the way, it heals cracked heels.” The phrase was widely shared and highly appreciated.
Behind this simple phrase lies a profound indication affirming the return of the police to the field, armed with discipline, commitment, and the authority of the state.
This appearance coincided with the beginning of police deployment in vital locations across the capital, Khartoum, during the radiant days of Eid al-Adha, primarily at the bridges, which were officially secured back from the army to the police forces. The announcement by the acting Minister of Interior and Director General, First Lieutenant General of Police Khalid Hassan Mohiuddin, about this shift, is a clear message that the next phase is heading towards affirming the civil, not military, nature of authority. The state is now returning through its institutional apparatuses that are resuming their natural positions and reimposing the law in a manner that reassures the citizen and restores their sense of security.
The Minister of Interior’s directives to the police forces to “treat citizens well and remain vigilant” are read as ongoing field instructions, while also representing a political statement with a reformative message and a foundation for the next phase. The state that has emerged from the horrors of war is now rebuilding its legitimacy through justice and discipline. Herein lies the importance of the police as a supporter of security restoration, peacebuilding, and service continuity.
In this context, according to “SUNA,” the Central Information Room affiliated with the police has resumed operations inside the capital after it was looted during the militia’s control of Khartoum. Alongside this, the criminal units began implementing targeted campaigns, such as the one that raided the Sabreen market the day before yesterday, where several habitual criminals were arrested. This step reflects the ability to carry out preventative security operations. This gradual return symbolizes a restoration of control, along with a systematic effort to regain trust, especially as Sudanese society is still healing from the widespread violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces militia over the past months.
The features of this confident return were clearly reflected in the report issued by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on June 6, 2025, which indicated that more than 1.1 million displaced persons had returned to their areas in Khartoum, Sennar, and Al-Jazira within less than six months. Such a significant return implicitly means that the citizen has begun to view the state as a safe umbrella. However, this security stability requires a parallel effort at the level of services, as some signs of this have begun to emerge in the field visits of the Khartoum Governor to several vital facilities, the operation of water and electricity stations, and his pledge to reactivate agricultural projects, including the Al-Jumu’iya project which serves dozens of villages.
Economically, life has gradually returned to the capital’s markets, despite the devastating effects of the war, indicating a recovery in the commercial cycle. From here emerges the larger project the state aspires to: turning Khartoum Airport into a regional transit hub. This vision, supported by international organizations such as ICAO, represents a development plan within the context of reconstruction, and also a bet on Sudan’s geographical location which could become a promising economic strength, if provided with a safe environment, stimulating legislation, and sound infrastructure.
Therefore, in this scene, and as we see from the #Face_of_Truth, the boot is no longer just a part of the police uniform, but has become a symbol of transformation — from the chaos of arms to state discipline, and from militia randomness to the authority of the law. The return of the police marks the beginning of a transition towards the state that Sudanese people aspire to: a state of justice and institutions, built by the will of the Sudanese people and rising above wounds. The security improvement we are witnessing these days affirms that the homeland has begun to regain its safety and vitality. Peace, as we know, is made in the streets, in schools, in services, and in the details of daily life. Thus, Sudan moves steadily toward reclaiming the nation, sovereignty, and the authority of the state, through deeply rooted national action and the resilience of its people.
Wishing you well and good health.
Sunday, June 8, 2025
Shglawi55@gmail.com