Welcome to News Right Now - What's Next for Sudan?

On April 11th, a Sudanese military council took control of the country and arrested longtime Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. In a televised statement, Sudanese Defense Minister Awad Mohamed Ahmed ibn Auf said that the quote-unquote "regime" had been removed and its head arrested. The military also announced that they would take control of the country for two years before new elections.

The arrest follows months of protests, political instability, and violence - where protesters demanded that al-Bashir step down and transition the country to civilian rule. While many are happy to see al-Bashir forced out of power, the public distrusts the military's current proposition to rule the country - seeing it as yet another power play by the military. The Sudanese streets erupted in discontent a few months ago over a rise in the price of bread and flour. But even before that, the situation in Sudan was a proverbial powder keg waiting to explode; widespread poverty, higher food prices, increased electricity costs, more expensive medicine prices, massive unemployment, and in addition to all of this, the government cut food subsidies for bread and flour - sparking massive protests and demonstrations. Predictably, rather than implementing the Islamic system and looking after the affairs of the people, the government responded with killing and wounding the protestors.

The point to keep in mind is that changing faces will not solve the country's severe economic problems. Even changing the regime, with its man-made constitution and rules will not solve the problems of Sudan. Replacing the Capitalist system with the Socialist system will not solve the problems in Sudan. The issue is not poverty and hunger or high electricity prices, because a poor nation can quickly build itself back up if it possesses an ideology that it believes in and implements.

In the case of the Muslim Ummah, that is the Islamic ideology, the Deen of Allah which obliges the Muslims to be witnesses over mankind, to be dominant over all other deens, systems, and ideologies, and that was sent to be a mercy to mankind. The irony of the Sudanese situation is that Sudanese soil, once estimated to be fertile enough to provide grain to the entire world, lies dormant, begging to be cultivated.

Were the Islamic system to be implemented in Sudan, it's agricultural sector would spring to life. The Khilafah state would encourage agricultural production and rapid industrialization, with an emphasis on heavy industry. It would cancel contracts with the International Monetary Fund and pursue a real economy with a currency based on gold and silver.

Our reminder to our brothers and sisters in Sudan is the same as in Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, and Yemen; do not be content with a change in faces. Instead, insist on true Islamic leadership, with a political vision to liberate the Ummah from colonialism and man-made, kufr ideologies, and to embrace the call for the implementation of the Khilafah upon the footsteps of the Prophet (s).

( وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۗ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَةَ الَّتِي كُنْتَ عَلَيْهَا إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَنْ يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسُولَ مِمَّنْ يَنْقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ ۚ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ)

“And thus have we made you a middle nation, to be witnesses over mankind, and that the Messenger may be a witness over you” [surah al-Baqarah:143]

Jazakum Allahu khairan for joining us.