Bombing of Civilians and the Fate of Oppressors

The heinous crime that claimed the lives of 65 innocent civilians in Karari locality on December 10th constitutes a war crime and a crime against humanity. It reflects a programmed and systematic hatred against the humanity of the Sudanese citizen, showing ongoing disdain for and disruption of their peace by the rebellious and rogue militia. These militias operate outside the bounds of religious and human principles, as well as national and international laws, empowered by new colonialist agendas aiming to exploit resources, undermine sovereignty, displace citizens, and impose foreign-backed agents over the rightful people of the nation through brutal force.

What is happening has no connection to democracy, human rights, or the rule of law. It lacks any ethical justification, popular grassroots support, or legitimate political or religious foundation. Instead, all of their aberrant actions conflict with Sudan’s heritage of traditions, values, and morals, which have shaped its civilization from the Nubian era in Kerma and beyond, dating back to 9500 BCE.

This criminal and inhumane methodology clearly aims to displace citizens from their homes and lands after looting their possessions. It also seeks to derail the nation’s progress toward construction, development, and urbanization, replacing it with chaos and systematic destruction. This perpetuates a cycle of administrative and political underdevelopment imposed upon Sudan since the armed colonial invasion of 1898, led by General Kitchener, which resulted in the overthrow of the national government established during the Mahdist revolution—a grassroots movement that had liberated Khartoum and ended colonial tyranny in January 1885.

Given this grim reality, which stems from premeditated agendas targeting the nation and its citizens, efforts must intensify across various sectors. The Attorney General’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, human rights organizations, civil society, and legal bodies should work together systematically and rapidly to document crimes, expose them, and collaborate with international judicial and human rights organizations to bring justice to victims and prosecute perpetrators.

Anyone found complicit in these crimes—regardless of their position or location—must be interrogated and prosecuted to uphold the rule of law and protect national sovereignty and citizens’ rights. Furthermore, coordination with neighboring and friendly states, the international police (Interpol), and regional security organizations must be activated to apprehend fugitive criminals. These crimes are clear violations of international criminal law and war crimes statutes, with well-established legal precedents, such as those from the Nuremberg Trials against Nazi war criminals and the Tokyo Trials for Japanese war crimes in 1946.

The globally accepted definition of terrorism—violent acts targeting civilians to achieve political aims—clearly applies to the militia’s actions since April 15, 2023. These include their occupation of the national television headquarters and preparation of a statement to seize power by force, following a failed assassination attempt on the army’s general commander near military headquarters.

This political tyranny and terrorism align with the despotic mindset captured in the infamous saying: “If you are not with us, you are against us,” echoed by militia supporters, foreign passport holders, and neo-colonial agents in exile. These individuals antagonize anyone who does not align with their shallow ideology and extremist behavior.

Such attitudes draw upon the principles of the oppressive rule of Pharaoh, condemned in the Quran—a stark warning against replicating his tyranny. Pharaoh demanded blind obedience, proclaiming: “I only show you what I see, and I guide you only to the path of righteousness.” This historical model of political dictatorship glorifies personal whims, deifies rulers, and imposes ideologies by force, trampling on human values, divine principles, and good governance.

Modern legal history and international courts have documented similar atrocities against humanity. Examples include Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Pol Pot, the leader of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge—a regime responsible for genocidal atrocities from 1975 to 1978, claiming over two million lives, a quarter of Cambodia’s population. Similar crimes against humanity in Africa include those of Charles Taylor, the former Liberian leader (1997–2003), who decimated hundreds of thousands during Liberia’s civil war, earning a 50-year prison sentence. Foday Sankoh of Sierra Leone, Taylor’s ally, committed crimes paralleling today’s militia atrocities, including rape, murder, and looting. Though Sankoh died during his trial, he, too, faced charges of war crimes akin to his Liberian counterpart.

Faced with such systematic targeting of lives and property, which has plagued all corners of Sudan, the interim authorities must maximize protective measures. They should root out traitors within their ranks—those who betray Sudan’s faith, morals, and citizens for a pittance—to supply mercenaries with coordinates for civilian attacks. Such individuals are accomplices in these crimes and should face the same penalties as the killers and looters.

Furthermore, all citizens must be mobilized to defend their lives, homeland, and legitimate rights, enshrined in religious teachings and international conventions. The ongoing targeting and indiscriminate killing have left no one exempt. Every citizen is now in the crosshairs of terror, betrayal, and national treachery.

Yet, amid this turmoil, one must trust in the divine promise: God forbids injustice and vows to punish oppressors with disgrace in this life and eternal torment in the afterlife. He has pledged to vindicate the oppressed, no matter how long tyranny prevails. Every oppressor meets an end, and history remembers them with scorn.

Syria’s downfall after 54 years of tyranny, repression, foreign dependence, and iron-fisted rule is a poignant lesson. Its fate exemplifies the divine declaration: “We will destroy the wrongdoers” (Ibrahim: 13). This promise of justice is unshakable, recorded in the Book of the Creator. Those who follow the path of tyranny will share the same destiny: “So these are their houses, desolate because of their wrongdoing” (An-Naml: 52).

May God grant martyrdom to innocent victims and punish the tyrants who exploit illicit wealth and misguided ideologies. May His retribution prevail in this world and the hereafter, where only those with pure hearts shall prosper.