Awad Babiker: The Departure of the Irreplaceable
As I See
Adil El-Baz
1
Who among those who knew him did not weep for him?!
People wept for Awad Babiker with genuine sorrow and broken hearts. Many were astonished and asked me: Who is Awad Babiker — the man mourned and grieved by an entire nation, from the right to the left? All of them eulogized him and shed tears for him.
He was a man of a different mold — indescribable, indefinable. He embodied all virtues, the essence of love and tolerance. He possessed the noblest qualities of the pious, the finest values of the Sudanese people, and the most admirable traits of Islamists — courage, sacrifice, and loyalty.
He was Awad Babiker — a man who cannot be replaced, because no one of his generation resembled him.
I met Awad Babiker when he was a young boy, at the doorstep of Dr. Al-Turabi’s salon — a place that was once the pilgrimage site of Islamists, office-seekers, and journalists alike, all chasing scoops and secrets brewed exclusively there.
We used to enjoy the company of that bright young man and the information he generously shared. Even when we were denied access to the Sheikh himself, we would return content, as if the Sheikh had entrusted him with knowledge and allowed him to attend just to inform us of what he wanted us to know — no more, no less.
Since those early days, Awad Babiker never left my side. He was always there. In every newspaper I worked for, Awad would feed me with exclusive news and updates, guiding me through the winds of change and what was to come.
He was a treasure trove of information, and his wide network and tireless efforts across all the rivaling factions — along with his proximity to Al-Turabi — granted him deep insight into the affairs of the day.
2
What always amazed me about Awad Babiker — beyond his sharp mind — was his lifelong tolerance and kindness.
When the great rift (the mufasala) happened in the 1990s, although he took the side of Sheikh Hassan and joined the Popular Congress Party, you would still find him attending all Islamist gatherings, treating everyone as “brothers.”
He never cut ties with anyone, nor did he show hostility toward any figure in the Ingaz government. He maintained warm relations with Islamists of every stripe. And why wouldn’t he? The man had ties with leftists, followers of the Khatmiyya sect, and the Umma Party. His heart embraced love for all people, regardless of their political affiliations.
I admired the movement’s obituary for Awad Babiker — it was well-deserved.
3
In every journalistic endeavor, I found Awad Babiker by my side, always offering help with whatever he had. He possessed little in terms of material wealth, but he always found a way out of any predicament.
I recall, when we were thrown in prison, the only one who cared for us and stood by us day and night was Awad Babiker. He barely left our side, while many colleagues vanished and wouldn’t even show up for a token visit!
I also remember, two years ago, when I launched the Sudan Events newspaper, Awad was the first to call me and say, “This is exactly what I’ve been looking for here!”
I asked him, “Where are you now?”
Our last conversation had been from Atbara.
He replied, “I’m in Malaysia.”
He told me there was no Sudanese source of information reaching Malaysia, so he would work on distributing the newspaper across Southeast Asia.
I thought it was a kind gesture — something typical of him. But soon after, I began receiving messages from various places in Indonesia and Malaysia praising the newspaper, saying it had filled a huge void and that they were following it regularly.
Ah, dear Awad!
I had already known that he had strong ties to the Amanu party and used to visit its leader, Mahathir Mohamad, as an envoy from Al-Turabi. He also had a close personal relationship with Malaysia’s current Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim.
4
Awad Babiker has now left this grim world — a world no longer fit for people like him.
A world where virtue has vanished, where the values of tolerance are buried, and where mediocrity rules — from Netanyahu to Trump.
A world where morals are trampled everywhere.
Awad Babiker is gone, but his image remains engraved in our hearts, and his voice still echoes in our memory — with warmth, sincerity, and comfort. He was not just a person. He was a noble shadow from a collapsing homeland — a reminder of what could have been.
5
We bid you farewell now, Awad — not with despair, but with deep gratitude. And we vow to uphold what you believed in: tolerance, loyalty, and unconditional love for others.
Rest in peace, dear friend of the heart.
Farewell, gentle passerby, who lives on in us through fragrant memories.
Awad Babiker has departed to the mercy of his Lord — to a paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, by God’s grace.
He now resides among lote trees without thorns and clusters of ripe bananas.
Indeed, we are saddened by your departure, Awad. Your memory will live with us as long as we remain in this fleeting world.
Farewell, Awad — you beautiful, noble soul.
