The Truth Face: The New Khartoum… As My Companion Said..!
Ibrahim Shaglawi
When the government clearly presents its vision, sets its priorities, and defines its major projects, it opens the door to an environment filled with optimism and trust. It also encourages the private sector to invest effectively, and ignites the enthusiasm of citizens who aspire to rebuild Khartoum on modern and sustainable foundations.
As my friend, Engineer Mahmoud Hussein, told me, such an announcement represents the beginning of a new phase of partnership and integration between the state, the private sector, and Sudanese society—toward transforming Khartoum into an urban and economic model worthy of Sudan’s history and stature.
The decision by General Ibrahim Jaber, head of the Reconstruction Committee, to relocate government institutions from downtown Khartoum is essentially a declaration of the end of the old Khartoum and the beginning of the formation of a new city with a different identity. It is an indirect call to reimagine the capital—a new opportunity to rebuild from the roots.
Khartoum as we knew it is over. The question is no longer: where will the institutions be moved? But rather: who will write the next page in Khartoum’s history? Will we leave it to newcomers, or rise to carve our names on the streets of the coming Khartoum? In my view, national capital now faces a moment of truth: either settle for being a mere observer, or take part in shaping the future.
Rebuilding Khartoum is not merely an engineering operation to restore destroyed buildings, bridges, and roads due to war; it is a project of comprehensive re-establishment that targets the city’s core and redefines it. It is a rebuilding of trust between citizen and state, a reordering of the relationship between society and businesspeople—in short, a redefinition of Khartoum as a city, an economy, a society, and a dream.
After years of war, the capital stands at a crossroads: either return to its troubled past or embark on a new project where the private sector leaves its mark with awareness befitting its national role.
Today, the state can no longer bear the burden of reconstruction alone. Therefore, the private sector must go beyond its traditional roles and transform from a recipient or supporter into a strategic and primary partner in the reconstruction effort. This can only be achieved through a clear strategic vision that defines roles and opens the door to genuine participation in investment and implementation.
In this context, the private sector can become an active force that drives economic momentum and revives national mega projects by investing in health, education, and infrastructure, drawing on successful international experiences—such as those of Lebanon, Rwanda, and Egypt. Khartoum deserves to be rebuilt with our own hands, minds, and shared national will.
In Sudan, we have a vast and deeply rooted private sector. Daal Group, Al-Barir family, Al-Nafeedi, Al-Barjoob, Al-Nahla, Mortada Maaz, Sheikh Mustafa Al-Amin, and hundreds of other companies operating in agriculture, industry, infrastructure, telecommunications, transport, finance, medical services, and education.
What is needed today is not seasonal donations but structural participation in building the capital through specialized sectoral alliances. Construction companies can undertake the rehabilitation of roads, bridges, and neighborhoods. The tech sector can build digital infrastructure. Agriculture and food industries can establish production and distribution complexes. Meanwhile, the health sector can build hospitals, the education sector can establish universities and vocational centers, and financial companies can fund small and medium enterprises.
These are not utopian ideas, but proven models. In Beirut after the civil war, the Solidere company revitalized the downtown area through a partnership between the state and the private sector. In Rwanda, Kigali was rebuilt through national business initiatives and became one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities. In Egypt, the private sector—such as Talaat Moustafa Group—became a main partner in major national projects, from new cities to power networks and industrial zones, driven by a clear governmental vision.
Despite the differing contexts, the message is one: national capital can be the arm of reconstruction if provided with a clear environment and defined responsibilities—along with recognition of its role in the re-establishment process.
As my companion said: In Sudan, according to #The_Truth_Face, we are not short on capital or companies, but we lack the collective will to design a smart partnership for reconstruction. A nation is not built with bricks and steel alone—but with partnership, and with mutual recognition between capital, authority, and society.
The government must announce its vision and detailed roadmap for rebuilding Khartoum across various media platforms—so that it becomes a comprehensive national declaration that motivates the private sector, reassures the citizen, and launches the birth of a new, modern, and sustainable city.
Wishing you well and good health.
Sunday, August 24, 2025
Shglawi55@gmail.com