By Kamal Al-Hedai
Indeed, calamities and hardships reveal the true nature of people, and I do not say the nature of men alone, because women too have their own nature and worth.
Although the atrocities committed by the Khartoum army and their criminal brigades in Madani and its surrounding areas recently were severe, these events may have revealed to some deluded individuals the truth that Southerners are among the most refined, understanding, loyal, and careful about the safety of their Sudanese brothers, despite the wrongdoings of our governments towards them.
Yes, there were painful incidents in which some innocent people suffered, but the response from the South was swift. They taught us all—especially the Burhan government—a lesson that we should learn from, becoming more humble in our dealings with others and letting go of the illusion that we are the best of nations.
Since the separation of this beloved part of our country, I have carried a sense of regret over its loss. We lived among them in neighborhoods, sat with them in classrooms, and formed strong and beautiful bonds. Hence, it wasn’t easy for us to part with them forever.
However, after these recent events, I found myself rejoicing in their separation from our country, and let me tell you why.
I rejoiced because their officials displayed full respect, responsibility, and honesty regarding such a difficult position, even though the cause was the arrogance and tyranny of the Khartoum regime—this plague of Sudan—and their representatives in the Port Sudan government.
A report mentioned that one of the reasons for fueling the feelings of South Sudanese citizens toward what happened to their fellow Southerners in Madani was a celebration held by Burhan’s ambassador in Juba, marking the entry of the army and the Khartoum brigades into the capital of Al-Jazeera.
I heard the South Sudanese Minister of the Interior speak, and her responsible words warmed my heart. Her clear desire to contain the disturbances quickly and provide protection for their Sudanese brothers impressed me with her politeness, the organization of her thoughts, and her sincerity.
She spoke with transparency about some regrettable incidents, unlike the Minister of Information of the Burhan government, who shamelessly denied any attacks took place.
I listened to more than one governor address the Sudanese there, assuring them they could stay in their places with protection or be relocated to safer areas until the situation calmed.
What occurred there is what we would call disturbances, as a large crowd of angry people acted impulsively and attacked some of our citizens and their properties. However, since the South Sudanese government is responsible—like most world governments, excluding Sudan—and since they are aware of their role in protecting and securing their guests, especially the Sudanese, they quickly provided this protection and security. They were even eager to reassure their Sudanese brothers with kind words about the motherland, shared experiences, and deep-rooted bonds.
Imagine, dear reader, if the situation had been reversed. Surely, we would have witnessed the complicity of official bodies and their deaf ears to what was happening, until some of the mentally ill among us satisfied their desires by venting anger on our Southern brothers.
We won’t lie and say that the situation was perfect. The South, like other third-world countries, faces many challenges. However, their government and officials showed the necessary seriousness in handling the crisis, speaking with honesty and from the heart, despite the suffering.