From Al-Fasher to Al-Dabba: The Journey of a Homeland That Never Lost Its Way
By: Eithar Abdul Hamid
In a scene that captures both the suffering of the Sudanese people and the strength of their belief in their homeland, the General Command of the Sudanese Armed Forces spoke through the X platform about the ordeal of thousands of Sudanese civilians forced to flee the cities of Bara, Al-Fashir, and Al-Nuhud.
What was striking about this forced displacement was the path the displaced chose: the longest routes leading to Nyala, Al-Fula, and Al-Dabba in northern Sudan—a journey marked by both exhaustion and hope, spanning more than eight hundred kilometers.
This journey for survival meant crossing the pain of the Sahara, where women, children, and the elderly walked day and night under a scorching sun, carrying their belongings on donkeys and trucks. They left behind childhood homes, ancestral lands, and modest dreams. Yet their eyes radiated resolve. The long distance became a symbol of a larger exile they were determined to overcome—the fear of being far from home.
Along the road, the displaced endured hunger, thirst, and a scarcity of medicine. But they also found hope in the warm reception they received in safe zones supported by the state, primary care institutions, and the Sudanese Armed Forces, who welcomed the weary families with genuine protection, dignity, and generosity. The army’s embrace was a renewed affirmation that the homeland endures—no matter how distant the destination, the nation is never absent, however far the road may stretch.
This displacement, despite its cruelty, carried a powerful message of awareness and trust. When a citizen chooses to walk away from militia-controlled areas toward the state, they declare to the world: we know where home is, who protects us, and who seeks to usurp us.
What is unfolding today is a struggle over consciousness, belonging, and identity. The Sudanese people have chosen to stand with the state, fully aware that the Sudanese army is not a force separate from the people. They are our sons, our protectors, and our supporters in times of trial.
To the people of Darfur and Al-Fashir in particular, we say: the pain of displacement will not last forever. The return home is a promise that will be fulfilled. You will return with dignity, and your cities will be rebuilt by the hands of their loyal sons. What binds the army and the people is not a mere slogan, but a covenant written in blood, patience, and faith.
One army, one nation—this is a truth engraved in the beating heart of every Sudanese citizen. Sudan will emerge stronger and more dignified than ever before.