The Manufacturing of Security Anxiety
By Omar Mohamed Othman
After a long period of relative calm—following the swift arrest of three suspects in the phone-snatching case that gripped public attention in Omdurman—talks have once again surfaced about new robbery incidents in Omdurman’s Block Eight. Though reports on the alleged crimes remain conflicting, their circulation on social media alone has been enough to rekindle “security anxiety,” painting Khartoum as an unsafe city.
Crime itself is a timeless social phenomenon—neither the most advanced nor the most underdeveloped nations have been immune to it, and no police force has ever succeeded in eradicating it completely. Yet the real danger lies not merely in the act of crime, but in its deliberate use as a tool to instill fear and undermine public trust in institutions. In this context, an isolated incident becomes a lever in a larger battle aimed at destabilizing society and distorting the image of the city in the minds of its residents.
Experts define “security anxiety” as a widespread sense of insecurity within society. While it can be triggered by real incidents, it is often fueled by exaggeration, rumors, or deliberate narratives designed to achieve political or economic ends. Its impact extends beyond psychological unease to eroded institutional trust, declining investment, and rising social tensions.
Here, the role of the police and their communication strategy is critical. The battle cannot be won through street patrols alone, but also through responsible messaging. When people do not receive credible information from official channels, rumors fill the vacuum and quickly harden into “facts.” In such cases, a clear statement can prove more effective than dozens of police patrols.
Specialized units, such as the Central Investigations Department and Security Police, therefore remain vital—not only in pursuing criminals, but in uncovering those behind the deliberate cultivation of insecurity. These actors often go beyond theft, targeting something far more dangerous: the collective sense of safety, with the aim of turning the capital into a constant theater of unease.
War has left deep scars: weakened institutional trust, widespread weapons, a fragile economy, and waves of displacement reshaping the social fabric. In this climate, the manufacturing of fear becomes a weapon for those seeking to weaken the state and prolong instability. This is the real challenge: the struggle is not merely with petty thieves, but with minds orchestrating a complex scene of psychological chaos.
Yet, confidence in the professionalism and expertise of the police remains strong. Their role extends beyond field operations to shaping public awareness, in coordination with other security institutions, to reaffirm that Khartoum can rise again—and that Sudanese society, despite the wounds of war, will not succumb to a fabricated image designed to erode its resilience.
