All the events and data faced by the Sudanese army in the early days of the militia’s betrayal indicated, almost confirming, that the army had no means to repel the attack. It was just a matter of time before defeat would occur, and the militia leader would declare himself president of the country and form a government with the support of the opposition forces (at that time—more to come later).
There were no operational tanks, no infantry, no reliable ammunition or equipment. The planes available had not been maintained for years, their spare parts were nonexistent, and their effectiveness was minimal. In short, based on objective data—and according to military logic—nothing would enable the army to withstand the massive military force that had prepared its plans and calculated for that day. Coordinated attacks were launched on the army command, armored vehicles, the palace, engineering, strategy, communications, radio and television, medical corps, Wadi Sidna base, the Jebel Awlia garrison. In an instant, all the army’s positions were under a fierce, simultaneous attack with very heavy fire.
The militia and its supporters had accounted for everything. They left no stone unturned and were certain that it would be like a football match between Brazil and the Maldives! They believed it would be a walk in the park, and in just a few hours, they would have control (and let whoever doesn’t like it challenge them).
In their material calculations, they overlooked the most important factor: the natural, essential quality of the Sudanese soldier—his courage, dedication, bravery, resilience, determination, and the fact that he never breaks or accepts defeat, regardless of the circumstances or conditions under which he fights. These values, which can’t be measured (in quantity), were absent from their plans. It was these values that led to the collapse of their failed venture. The militia and its conspirators did not know that the honor of the Sudanese army is beyond comparison, no one can surpass us, and those who do not like it can go ahead and challenge us.
The worst mistake of the former regime was the destruction of the army, depriving it of ammunition and weapons, displacing its competent officers and soldiers, and trying to replace it with a mad militia to protect it, despite the army’s rejection. This weakened and impoverished the army. Al-Bashir was more concerned with attending the World Cup final in Moscow while his army lacked basic equipment. His focus ended up being on protecting his regime, not Sudan. To achieve this, he founded and generously funded the militia, depriving the army of resources that should have gone to it. The militia grew strong under Al-Bashir’s protection, but then turned against him, joining forces to overthrow his regime, and eventually expanded its ambitions, deciding to seize the country for itself. They did not realize that this would lead to their downfall.
Like millions of others, I never doubted for a moment at the start of the fighting that the army would prevail, regardless of the material conditions or weapons. The officers, soldiers, and later the security forces, as well as the joint forces and mobilized individuals, are all sons of the Sudanese people. The Sudanese people never break or lose, no matter how strong the opponent. Those who planned the militia’s rebellion were ignorant of this fundamental truth about the Sudanese people: their resilience, their resolve, and their strength, which led to the collapse of their invasion.
I have mentioned in previous articles that the army has two objectives in this war: First, to fulfill its primary duty of protecting the country and defending its sovereignty; second, to restore its professional honor, which was attempted to be tarnished by a militia that believed it could defeat it in its capital and then dissolve it to replace it. I also mentioned that the entire nation, in all its components, is fighting alongside the army to defend the country and its sovereignty. The army’s battle for its professional dignity and discipline against the militia’s attempt to tarnish its image is a matter for the army alone. No one knows its details. When you dare to wound a lion and fail to kill it, you should expect the worst. Only the lion decides what the worst will be when it overpowers you.
Now, we are close to achieving the first goal, while the second remains a matter for the army’s leadership, officers, and soldiers. No one knows its details, but we do know that the blood of their fallen comrades will not be in vain. This is the honor of soldiering and camaraderie in arms.
Now, as the wounded lion returns to its den and its capital, I have no doubt that most, if not all, of the military leaders of the world, especially in the West and Africa, along with intelligence agencies and military experts from all over, are watching and analyzing the miracle achieved by the Sudanese army! I am not a military expert, and I do not understand military sciences, but from the information I have about the conditions the army and the militia faced before the war, I am confident that what the army achieved is a miracle by all measures. The miracle is not in the victories the army has recently achieved, but in its ability to absorb the shocks and devastating attacks in the first days of the war and remain steadfast, both in leadership and soldiers! As we observed, the attacks in the early days were enough to dismantle any military system after crippling its movements, cutting its units from each other, and severing its supply lines for months. Despite all this, the army’s units remained resilient, fighting with unparalleled bravery and determination.
Our army has every right to be proud and boast about the miracle it achieved in a fierce war that targeted the country in its entirety, leaving its capital in ruins comparable to the destruction of Carthage by the Romans or the devastation of Bukhara by the Mongols. Both cities were defeated, overrun by the invading army, and their citizens slaughtered mercilessly. In our case, however, our army withstood the destruction and widespread looting, and most of the capital’s residents survived, which is something worth noting. How did all those millions survive the 21st-century massacres?
The worst thing about us as a nation is our lack of attention to documentation. Now, as the fighting nears its end, it is time for documentation and writing. The army’s leadership must assign capable officers to lead this documentation process, or encourage university professors and other historians and writers to record and write about these heroic deeds. There is much that deserves to be documented, and this is important for future generations and the world. We must document this in all the world’s living languages so that the world and future generations know the extent of the sacrifices made by their ancestors in defense of the nation. Battles in armored units, engineering, communications, refineries, Jebel Moia, Sennar, Madani, El Fasher, Babanusa, White Nile, and many other regions all deserve to be documented.
This is not only about documenting history; it is the right of the martyrs to ensure their sacrifices are not forgotten! Without their sacrifices, we would have no land or nation, and our legacy would have been lost forever. Those who fell are the ones who kept our flag flying high among the nations of the world, and we must remember them every time the national anthem is played.
Documentation is also important for the institution’s memory (the army). If the institution forgets its own memory, it loses its heritage, and the magnitude of its achievements and history diminishes. New recruits would be ignorant of the heroism of those who came before them.
In conclusion, our army has every right to be proud and boastful, and our people have every reason to rejoice. We are truly a nation born anew, consecrated by the blood of our martyrs. This land is ours.
Source: “Sudanese Echoes”
