A Dialogue with Mubarak Al-Fadil (2/2)

As I See It

By: Adil Al-Baz

1

In the conclusion of the first part of this article yesterday, I told Mr. Mubarak Al-Fadil that the international community, which is now rushing in with new initiatives, is doing so to save what remains of the Al-Daglo militia, not out of any sudden sympathy for the virtuous Sudanese people. However, in various parts of his tweet, which is the subject of this dialogue, Mr. Mubarak insists that the international community is the hopeful savior. Look at what he says in this paragraph: “The militia has turned into gangs like ISIS and Boko Haram, spreading like cancer, and eradicating them requires the concerted efforts of the international and regional community.”

It was wise of Mr. Mubarak to mention ISIS and Boko Haram when discussing militias. What did these same international entities do to ISIS? Didn’t they crush them to the last soldier and chase them all over the world? But here, the same international and regional community embraces Sudan’s ISIS, negotiates with them, provides them platforms in all Arab, African, and European capitals, and mediates to resolve their crisis. Doesn’t Mr. Mubarak find it strange, this double standard in dealing with our ISIS versus the other ISIS? There is no difference between these extremists in any time or place, but the West and their Arab agents love the Janjaweed ISIS because they serve their plans and the plans of their puppets. That’s why they can’t crush them or even condemn them!

It’s strange for Mr. Mubarak to say that the international community will join forces with us to eradicate the Janjaweed. On what grounds, Mr. Mubarak? The proof of their impotence is their inability to enforce the agreements the militia signed in Jeddah for more than a year, during which they wreaked unprecedented havoc on Sudanese soil. The proof is that the international and regional organizations have refused to condemn them. The proof is that they allowed the militia to arm themselves despite UN Security Council resolutions. The proof is their failure to condemn them even as they commit genocide. The proof is that even after looting embassies, international organization headquarters, and warehouses, this so-called international community has failed to condemn them. The proof is that they are now sending daily mediations to change Sudan’s stance (within one month, we received the Saudi Foreign Minister, the Norwegian Ambassador, Abiy Ahmed before them, then the African Union delegation, and finally, Abbas Kamel, Director of Egyptian Intelligence, arrived in Port Sudan yesterday. Not to mention the incessant and annoying calls from Secretary Blinken and many others). All this rushing and international mediation—does anyone believe it came to help us eradicate the militia or to save them? Mr. Mubarak, as a well-informed man, surely you understand this.

2

Let’s move on to the second point in our dialogue with Mr. Mubarak. He says about the government’s position on Geneva and its boycott: “There are flimsy reasons, then they pushed for the armed movements to participate in the negotiations.” What, Mr. Mubarak, are these flimsy reasons that the government did not disclose? The government said it will not enter new negotiations but will only discuss mechanisms to implement the outcomes of the Jeddah Declaration! Is this a flimsy reason? Isn’t this exactly what you are asking for, Mr. Mubarak? So how can it be a flimsy reason? But Mr. Mubarak believes that the government should have gone and demanded the implementation of Jeddah without insisting on a government delegation, going only as the army.

The government has other demands, such as not wanting hostile observers, while America insists on imposing its agenda, observers, hosts, location, timing, and even the Sudanese negotiators. So where is our sovereignty and dignity? Are they just erased from the equation? Like cattle being silently led to slaughter. Tell me, is there any respectable country that would accept this? The militia wants the army to negotiate with them as the army, stripping the government of its legitimate status and representation of the people. And here, Mr. Mubarak says that since the army signed the Jeddah Declaration, it should be the one to go alone to Geneva, not the government. Many things, Mr. Mubarak, have changed on the ground, and the players are different. The militia has no right to impose its conditions on us. I have to ask you, Mr. Mubarak, who insists that the army adhere to the Jeddah Declaration: what clause has the militia adhered to in the Jeddah Declaration that we should now force our government and state to adhere to? The militia committed all the foolishness that blew up the agreement, so why should we comply with their demands? Is it permissible for them and forbidden for everyone else?

In addition to the flimsy reasons that Mr. Mubarak imagines, he adds another reason: the government’s inclusion of the armed movements in the participation in Geneva. Yesterday, I wrote about the rightful participation of these movements as long as they are fighting alongside the government.

Mr. Mubarak says that the international community does not want these movements to participate. Suppose that’s true, why should we rush to meet their demands? So what is the meaning of sovereignty and the freedom of nations? Or is this just empty talk? This, Mr. Mubarak, is what the militia and its creators want, and the international community, the authors of the Framework Agreement, complies.

This same international community was once allied with these very armed movements and against the crimes of the Janjaweed. If they turned against these movements due to external or internal influences, should we also rush to turn against them, even if they carry weapons with us to defend Sudan? Is this logical, Mr. Mubarak?

Finally, Mr. Mubarak says, “The people have lost everything they owned and have nothing left but their land and dignity,” and based on this true statement, he calls on President Al-Burhan to agree to go to Geneva, which was and is now completely irrelevant.

Well, if the people have lost everything and only their land and dignity remain, why does Mr. Mubarak call for compromising them? Our land and its wealth are the targets of the Janjaweed and those behind them, so why should we accept them as occupiers of our homes and lands? What did we ask for? Just that they leave our homes, and they agreed. But because the double-standard international community, when they refused to leave and did what they did… called us again to negotiate with them to leave our homes. As Suzy Khalil (may the clouds bless her) said, what are we negotiating on? … According to you, Mr. Mubarak, we only have our dignity left, so how can we maintain it while they occupy our land and homes after looting them? What are we negotiating on again? On what they looted, killed, and destroyed, on the violated and enslaved virgins… what are we negotiating on, Mr. Mubarak? Believe me, Mr. Mubarak, without implementing the Jeddah agreement, neither the government nor the hypocritical international community nor the red devil himself can stop this war. And President Al-Burhan was right when he said, “Those who preach peace should advise the militia to comply with the Jeddah Declaration.”