When Sudan Needs Its Churchill: Kamal Idris and the Time of Salvation

By: Abdel Nasser Salim Hamed

Amid the ashes, among cities that bleed and cry for help, Sudan stands on the brink of collapse. The state has vanished, society is divided, and institutions that once symbolized the very existence of the nation have crumbled.

Yet, the Sudanese Armed Forces remain steadfast, fighting on multiple fronts to defend what remains of the state’s dignity and territorial unity—preserving whatever is left of national sovereignty in the face of total disintegration. But the truth is, arms alone are not enough. The battle is not won solely on the battlefield; it is decided through politics, legitimacy, and the rebuilding of the state on new foundations of justice and national unity.

A leader of a special kind is needed—one who does not wait for consensus, but creates it. Not someone born of political quotas, but of historical necessity. This is where the name Dr. Kamal Idris rises—as hope rises when horizons narrow. Those who save nations in times of crisis are not necessarily the loudest voices in the political arena, but rather those who have accumulated experience, vision, and integrity—shaped by trials, not by spotlights. History confirms that nations are not governed by slogans, but by wisdom and reason—not by narrow loyalties, but by commitment to the greater good.

When King George VI summoned Winston Churchill in May 1940, London was under threat, and the Nazis were sweeping through Europe. Churchill was not beloved by the political class, nor did he come through a general election—but he was the man for the moment, the leader of the survival battle. On that day, he uttered his famous words:
“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat… but we shall prevail.”
And prevail he did—not because he was the strongest, but because he was the most truthful, the clearest in vision, and the firmest in the face of collapse.

Today, Sudan is going through its own “Churchillian” moment: a decaying state, a displaced population, destroyed institutions, and suffocating international isolation. From amidst this rubble, a fundamental question arises: Who is the man capable of leading this critical phase—away from factions, militias, and political corruption?

Dr. Kamal Idris is not just a politician—he is a true statesman, a rare figure in these turbulent times. A professor of law, an international expert on intellectual property rights, and a former head of a United Nations-affiliated global organization, he enjoys both international consensus and domestic respect. He is a figure of integrity, neutral in the Sudanese conflict, and uninvolved in war alliances or transitional deals.

For more than two decades, he served in the arenas of international law and multilateral diplomacy, moving between Geneva and New York, building a network of relationships with decision-makers in Europe, the United States, Asia, and the Arab world. He is one of the few capable of speaking to the international community in a language it respects—and in a tone that resonates with the global centers of power.

While other factions scramble for narrow gains, Kamal Idris is emerging as the exceptional choice for an exceptional time: acceptable to a national public desperate for a way out, skilled in the art of governance and negotiation, and qualified to build a civilian rescue front that reassures the domestic scene and convinces the international community.

One of the most dangerous outcomes of the war in Sudan is the fragmentation of concepts: military power has become the source of legitimacy, instead of popular mandate or competence. But nations are not built on the logic of dominance, but by those who can unite, calm the fury, and restore faith in the state project. Here, Kamal Idris stands apart from the opportunists crowding the scene: he never carried a rifle, never signed off on a massacre, never traded in empty slogans. He built his name by serving the law, defending people’s rights, and promoting dialogue among nations.

Just as Churchill was a unifying leader despite the divisions of British politics, Kamal Idris represents a national symbol that transcends partisanship—anchored in a spotless record and a legacy unmarred by bloodshed.

One UNESCO official once described him as:
“One of the sharpest diplomatic minds I’ve met in Africa—combining wisdom, openness, and integrity.”
And the Financial Times once wrote:
“A rare man in the world of politics—he listens well and speaks the language of the future.”
These are not mere promotional phrases—they are clear indicators of the international consensus Sudan could leverage to reconnect with the world after years of isolation.

In displacement camps, in scorched villages, and in the eyes of mothers awaiting their sons—Kamal Idris’s name is not a political luxury, but a symbol of hope. Hope that someone still thinks of the homeland as a father thinks of his home—with compassion, responsibility, and a fierce will to protect it. That is why, when we say Sudan needs Kamal Idris, we are not only addressing the political class—but the people who still believe that a better tomorrow is possible.

In a world where nations race to secure their interests, Sudan will find no foothold unless it is led by someone who understands the world’s language and holds the trust we lost during years of isolation and war. Kamal Idris—with his diplomatic legitimacy and far-reaching relationships—is capable of returning Sudan to the table—not as a burden, but as a partner.

Time is running out before Sudan becomes a failed state in the fullest sense of the term. What remains of the country is being contested by warring factions, and the international community sees Sudan as a disaster zone unfit for statehood. In this context, the only way out of the tunnel is through a transitional leadership with national symbolism, public and institutional acceptance, and a roadmap to reconstruct the state.

Appointing Dr. Kamal Idris is not a political favor—but a national necessity. He is the rational choice in an age of madness, the moderate voice in a time of extremism, and the unifying symbol in a homeland torn apart by division.

Nations are not rebuilt with cheers—but with decisions. History is not written in statements—but in actions. And the moment of national salvation does not wait for public referendums—it demands courageous decisions and for leaders to say one thing:
Enough collapse… Let us move forward, with the one who can lead us to safety.
Just as Churchill saved Britain from ruin, the time has come for Sudan to lend its voice to the one who carries the banner of the state—not that of a faction.

His name: Kamal Idris… the man for a moment that cannot afford delay.