Sudan: Another Example of Nationalism’s Failure

According to the laws that govern the current system, every nation has the right to choose the laws that governs them – and thus, every nation has a right to a state. This concept led to the wave of new countries after World War 2, as existing ones split and thus, we have the mess that we see today.

Since 1945 there have been at least 34 new countries which have been recognized by the United Nations. This resulted from the wave of nationalism that swept across the world in the decades since the mid 1900’s. Imaginary borders were drawn to grant different factions independence and the right to rule, as countries like the previously united Sudan fell into conflict and turmoil.

But the new divisions didn’t solve the problems that existed – it complicated them. In the case of Sudan, one way of understanding this complication is to look at their industry and oil sector. It was central to the joint country and became the backbone of both newly formed economies. The problem was that the borders dismantled Sudan’s previously centralised oil industry.

In the newly formed states, the South held most of the oil fields but the North held the export infrastructure, including pipelines and refineries. So, the newly landlocked South Sudan was reliant on Sudan’s pipelines to the Red Sea. This division led to disputes over transit fees, which has repeatedly disrupted oil exports – exports which both countries still rely on for their economy. As an example, in 2012, South Sudan halted oil production in over these disagreements, a move which significantly impacted both countries' revenues. While agreements were made to resume the exports, the tensions and economic difficulties remain.

So, since 2011, what we have had is two separate countries which are heavily reliant on each other. They have the resources, but lack the development needed to utilize them. And so, despite holding about 8 billion barrels of oil between them, they suffer from extreme poverty.

This could change – if the countries were united, and stabilized. This won’t happen under the current Capitalist system – this system has exacerbated the conflicts between the people, and then gave them a ruling system which encouraged ideas such as ‘survival of the fittest’, which have fueled tensions within and between the countries.

In order to change the situation in Sudan, and ensure that the country achieves political stability and is able to develop economically, it needs to be brought back under the banner of Islam. Then its oil sector can be utilized correctly, its agricultural sector can be developed, its mining and industrial sectors can expand, and its trade infrastructure can be enhanced.

This would be done under the guidance of the Khaleefah (caliph) and his administration – who understand their obligation to ensure that areas within the Islamic State are developed, and the resources are utilized, for the benefit of the Muslim Ummah. They would be sinful for ignoring this responsibility.

It’s possible to develop the area of Sudan. It has the potential to become a major food producer and exporter with its vast arable land—about 84 million hectares, though less than 20% is cultivated. It has key crops, which include cotton, peanuts, sesame seeds, sorghum, wheat, and sugarcane. It’s also rich in mineral resources such as gold, asbestos, chromium, mica, kaolin, and copper. And it has the infrastructure for several light industries such as agricultural processing, electronics assembly, plastics, furniture manufacturing, and textile production.

It has the ability to supply resources to the rest of the Muslim lands, while benefiting from what they offer. As it is strategically located between the Gulf States and West Africa, and has access to the Red Sea.

The main Sudanese seaport is Port Sudan, a natural deep-water port capable of handling large vessels. It also supports diverse cargo including containers, bulk goods, and oil. This, alongside the other Sudanese ports, provide the country with direct connectivity to international shipping lanes via the Red Sea. This doesn’t only link Sudan to its African neighbours but also to Middle Eastern markets including Saudi Arabia's port city Jeddah. This is significant as its neighbours are landlocked and would need Sudan’s access to the sea in order to trade with the rest of the Muslim lands. Lands that aren’t limited to Africa and the Middle East but also, potentially, the ones in Asia, Europe and the Persian Gulf as well through Sudan’s strategic location on the Red Sea and proximity to the Suez Canal shipping route.

Despite the current turmoil, the infrastructure is operational- with Sudan currently exporting its crude oil to the UAE and Malaysia through the Bashayer Marine Terminal and the PLOC Marine Terminal. These exports are sent through Sudan’s Red Sea port infrastructure and largely consist of the crude produced in South Sudan.

So, the potential is there for the area to become a thriving part of the Islamic State. Once the Muslim lands are reunited, Sudan would be able to conduct trade with the rest of the Muslim Ummah. This is significant because Sudan is not the only country blessed with natural resources that are enough to cater to many of the global demands today – the whole of Africa has been blessed with such resources; the continent holds approximately 30% of the world’s mineral reserves including cobalt, gold, platinum and copper. It also possesses approximately 8% of the world’s oil reserves and about 12% of global natural gas reserves.

If we look at Sudan’s neighbours, we have Egypt, which is rich in natural gas and oil. It also has access to the Nile River, which is a vital water resource. There is Eritrea with significant mineral resources including gold, copper, and potash, and Ethiopia with its hydropower potential, agricultural land, and minerals. Then there is Central African Republic with diamonds, gold, and uranium, and both Chad and Libya with their large oil resources.

Despite all this wealth and potential, Africa is home of some of the poorest nations in the world. Along with Sudan and South Sudan, the rest of the states are rife with conflict and death. Their resources stolen and exploited.

Under the Khilafah (Caliphate) State, this would change. The Islamic State would resume its obligation to develop the land’s resources, so that we (as an Ummah) are self-sufficient and not reliant on or exploited by enemy states. This is essential, as it is not allowed to give the enemies of Islam any advantage over us. And as we can see, it is also possible, if we have a leader to unite the Muslims in Sudan and quell the current instability and turmoil.

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Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Fatima Musab
Member of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir