Sudan’s Army: Seventy Years of Dignity

Colonel (Retired) Osama Mohamed Abdulrahim

Sudan traditionally celebrates Army Day on the 14th of August each year, marking the anniversary of General Ahmed Mohamed taking command of the army. This year, as the Sudanese army turns seventy, it finds itself in the midst of a war against the rebellious militia, which has now entered its sixteenth month. For 487 days, the battle has raged, and the Sudanese army has stood firm, recording some of the most glorious chapters of honor and dignity, written in blood and sweat.

The Sudanese army is distinguished by its diversity in races, ethnicities, languages, and dialects. This institution has always united all Sudanese tribes, officers and soldiers, leaders and subordinates, embodying a radiant image of nationalism and unity, despite the efforts of Sudan’s enemies and those with agendas to prove otherwise through deception and distortion. The Sudanese army has remained steadfast against aggression and conspiracy throughout its history, fighting for the unity of the country and the safety and security of its people, regardless of the changing political regimes.

Everything this army has written since its founding in 1925 is a record of glorious history and a book of pride and honor. However, the struggle during the Dignity War that has engulfed the country remains an open book, documenting heroism and sacrifice day by day.

As the Sudanese army has organized itself into structured formations, brigades, and divisions across land, sea, and air, its efforts and struggles have been adorned with columns of martyrs and wounded since its birth until now, without interruption.

Who do we write about, and who do we speak of, when the Sudanese army is full of symbols of pride and sacrifice? These are individuals who live among us, walking with virtue, courage, and bravery, for a brighter future for Sudan and a better future for its people.

As a disciplined institution of the state, governed and regulated by the constitution and laws, the leadership of the army has been exchanged in a regular and organized manner over time. It has been led by Khalil, Abboud, Nimeiri, Bashir, and others. Tomorrow, Burhan and his comrades will leave, but the army as an institution remains firmly grounded, with its head held high, adorned with nationalism and conscience, passing its brigades from one generation to the next.

The greatest asset of the Sudanese army is its human resource, raised on values, ethics, bravery, and courage. An army with such loyal soldiers and great officers cannot be broken by plots and conspiracies; instead, these challenges only strengthen its resolve and resilience.

The military doctrine and combat doctrine of the Sudanese army are based on a deep and respectable ethical and cultural heritage, drawn from the noble Sudanese customs and traditions and the righteous religion. This doctrine organizes the process of combat and answers the questions of why we fight and how we fight, through a series of arrangements, procedures, and measures. It also organizes the training, armament, and organization of the armed forces, guiding their behavior in both peace and war. Therefore, it becomes evident that there is a vast difference between those whom citizens seek for security, stability, and peace and those whom citizens flee from out of fear of murder, abuse, robbery, looting, and harm to their lives, property, and livelihoods. The wise mind can distinguish between the two.

Historically, looking at the emergence of armies and their tasks of defending nations and protecting borders, peoples, resources, and achievements, we find that this responsibility was previously borne by the entire population. With the evolution of the concept of the state, modern and recognized armies emerged. Whenever a threat faces a nation, the army begins to carry out its duties as prescribed by the constitution and regulated by laws. However, when aggression continues, extends over time, and expands in scope, as is happening in Sudan since April 15, 2023, with the escalation and rallying of aggression regionally and internationally, fueling the flames of war and igniting it continuously to serve political and military objectives, it becomes necessary for the victimized state to mobilize its people for resistance and align behind its army. This is precisely what is happening now, improving day by day until victory is achieved.

On its seventieth anniversary, after all this time of fighting since April 15, 2023 (487 days), we can summarize and affirm the following conclusions:

* It is certain that the Sudanese army has succeeded in destroying the enemy’s hard power, which began the battle with an inflated ego but ended up as scattered, small groups weakened and weary.

* The army has successfully crushed the elite and highly trained forces of the enemy, and the enemy’s attempts to replace them with mercenaries from outside the borders, particularly in artillery, rocket launchers, drone operations, and sniping, have failed. It is evident to any observer that these capabilities are diminishing with the continuation of the battle.

* The Sudanese army has largely succeeded in halting the enemy’s human reinforcements, especially from the west, where the enemy tries to compensate with local gangs and criminals.

* The leadership has succeeded in encircling the enemy’s external supporters on political and diplomatic platforms, in international legal bodies, and in regional and international forums, leading to a decrease or cessation of logistical and financial support, weakening the militia and breaking its resolve.

* The battle has transformed and shifted from the army facing semi-organized rebel forces in the first phase to confronting and pursuing militias in the second phase, and now it has entered the final phase of chasing down and engaging with scattered, criminal gangs mixed with remnants of disbanded militias.

* The army is now focused on drying up the stagnant pools of criminal militia across various parts of the country.

* Several neighboring and regional countries are beginning to return to soft diplomacy, seeking to restore relations, rectify their failed positions, or save face before the Sudanese people and government, indicating a shift towards winning the battle on the ground. It seems clear that the circles of aggression have recognized their mistake and the futility of their efforts, turning to soft diplomatic and political means instead of continuing their violent military approach, which led them to ethical downfall in the eyes of both their local and international communities.

* The Sudanese army has also succeeded in transforming the enemy forces into small, regionally-based groups with weak equipment, led by local leaders under coercion and compulsion.

* The army has successfully neutralized several enemy field commanders. In contrast, even if some of the army’s leaders are martyred, it remains an institution capable of continuous leadership succession, thanks to its disciplined military system, which can generate new leaders at any time, systematically and flexibly, without disruption caused by the outcomes of battle.

* The army has forced the enemy forces to shift from mass attacks and heavy firepower to hit-and-run tactics, attacking one location before moving to another, without the intention of holding ground.

* The alignment of the Darfuri armed struggle forces that signed the Juba Agreement with the fight against the rebel militia, successfully defending and fortifying El Fasher, cutting off human and logistical supply lines from outside the western borders, and creating a noticeable qualitative difference.

* The final observation is the noticeable decline in media appearances by the first-line leadership of the militia due to their weakness, exhaustion, and confusion in the chaos of war, unable to continue or find a way out of the conflict safely.

Furthermore, if we reexamine the battle in summary, we can note the following:

* The army managed to absorb the initial shock of the battle and regain its balance early on.

* The army has succeeded in exhausting and depleting the enemy forces in terms of personnel and equipment.

* The army has prevented the enemy forces from replenishing and has made this task difficult for them.

* The enemy forces have spread over vast areas without impact (control).

* The enemy forces have lacked the tools to manage the state and control government institutions, making them always weak in front of both local and international communities.

* Diplomatically and politically, a country like the UAE has been forced to condemn the militia directly and publicly and to request that it allows humanitarian aid to reach affected areas, marking a significant and clear shift.

* The enemy has not achieved any of its military or political objectives in the battle, and the media discourse on these two points has been constantly changing since the beginning of the war until now.

The Sudanese army is the candle of this nation, and it must be kept alight. The army remains the last bastion of pride and safety in Sudan, victorious as long as it remains steadfast, adhering to principles and values, defending the homeland without faltering, planting the land with the seeds of martyrs, watered by their blood and pure souls. The army has a protector in God against all forms of aggression, against the modern-day foes who come in droves, cast out by deserts and fields, only to meet their end at the hands of strong men who believe in their cause and uphold their mission, striking their enemies with the weapons of truth and faith.

On this day, we salute all members of the great Sudanese army, extend mercy and forgiveness to its noble martyrs, wish a speedy recovery to every wounded and injured, and send our heartfelt prayers for a swift victory for the Sudanese army on its seventieth anniversary.