National Peace Dialogue

It has been a long time since I last wrote an article. Life’s hurdles and hiccups have proven stronger than my pen. However, the call of the chairperson of the Sovereign Council of the de facto regime has gladdened my heart, energized and motivated me to write this brief piece. His call is directed at opposing political parties and figures in the diaspora to come back home for genuine peace dialogue. He pledged and committed to provide all sorts of arrangements, guarantees, and protection to secure their safety. I sincerely hope this call is not a statement of truth used to justify falsehoods. Undoubtedly, conducting such National Peace Dialogues outside the country is very costly. In addition, concerned Sudanese people and primary stakeholders might not be able to follow the proceedings of the peace sessions. Organizing national peace dialogues inside a bleeding country reflects the seriousness and genuineness of the participating parties.

My only suggestion, if His Excellency can allow, is that all peace dialogues and sessions should be conducted in the internally displaced persons’ camps and not in Khartoum, Port Sudan, or Madani. I can assure you, Mr. Chairperson, that the internally displaced persons will warmly welcome them and provide them with the necessary blankets, mats, utensils, and shelter. I’m sure that the internally displaced women will go to the forest and fetch wood for cooking and lighting. The internally displaced persons are very generous and kind. They can provide the honorable guests with all sorts of comfortable facilities except the protection from scorpions, snakes, rats, and sometimes wolves. There are no air conditioners, no fans, and no cold, bottled water. The bathroom facilities are completely in the open. For either a short or long call, you have to go to the bush.

Mr. Chairperson, if you stay with them in the same camp for just one week to hasten the peace process, I swear by Almighty God they will forge peace within three days. It will be the most sustainable version of peace the world has ever seen. Such a model can be replicated in other places where similar conflicts are present, and it will guarantee you a Peace Prize.

Now I can go back to settle my life’s hurdles and hiccups.

Mahjoub S. G.
Kampala, Uganda