Interviews: Capturing the Pulse of Sudan

“The Africanist Podcast Sudan: By Dr. Abdelmonim Ali – Episode with Mr. Koert Lindijer”

Nairobi: Sudan Sawa Sawa, January 20, 2025

“Sudan is a schizophrenic country…”

Two-year-old war in Sudan between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) led by Abdelfattah al-Burhan & the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) a paramilitary group led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo also known as ‘Hemedti’ led to a major humanitarian crisis, and it is the worst in the world today, yet it often goes unnoticed by international media. To reflect more on Sudan issues, The Africanist Podcast Sudan hosts Mr. Koert Lindijer, a Dutch Africa Correspondent and author of four books in Dutch.

The situation in Sudan has led to Major humanitarian crisis and it is the worst in the world but yet it goes unnoticed by the international media. What are your thoughts and how can journalist help raise awareness about Sudan?

The situation in Sudan is horrible. We need to discuss it as one of the worst humanitarian disasters, especially when compared to the crises in Gaza and Ukraine. However, it’s important to remember that all human suffering is tragic and cannot truly be compared. The crisis in Sudan stands out because it is not just a forgotten conflict; it is largely ignored, while the other two receive significant media and diplomatic focus. Access to Sudan is challenging, making it hard for journalists to report accurately. More importantly, there is a lack of diplomatic pressure on the warring parties to agree to a ceasefire or allow humanitarian corridors, which both sides are reluctant to do. The international community, including both Middle Eastern and Western nations, is not doing enough, leading to a worsening humanitarian crisis. The number of displaced people has skyrocketed from 1 to 2 million to now over 10 to 12 million, including refugees. In my 40 years of reporting, I have never seen a crisis so neglected, leaving millions to fend for themselves and resulting in many deaths.

Sudan has always been in conflict and since its independence. What are the main causes of this war in Sudan?

Sudan has a complex identity, and has lots of problems. If I want to be nasty, I would say Sudan is a schizophrenic country but of course being a Sudanese it’s not being nice to be called. What I mean is that Sudan struggles to define itself, whether as African or influenced by Arab culture. Since gaining independence, the country has had trouble accepting its multicultural and multiethnic nature. This issue is a key reason for many of Sudan’s problems. I once spoke with a Sudanese musician Al-Kabli who demonstrated the various rhythms in Sudanese music, showing that it doesn’t fit neatly into being just African or Arab. Instead of celebrating this diversity, the country has faced divisions and conflicts, leading to the difficult situation it finds itself in today.

Sudan experienced major political shifts. In 2019, the people rose up against Omer Albashir. These protests encountered by military takeovers. As a journalist who was in Sudan during these uprisings, when did you feel hopeful for the nation?

It’s not part of my trade to use the word hope, although it is easy to say right now there is no hope for millions of Sudanese. Sudan has a strong history of trade unions and political parties, unlike many other African nations that have struggled to build civilian infrastructure. However, this potential has never been used for positive growth. You mentioned key moments in history when civilians took control, only to have the military undermine those revolutions. The 2019 civilian uprising was either taken over by the military or lacked follow-through from the civilians, who also have their own internal issues. The civilian opposition still struggles to unite against military forces, whether from the RSF or SAF. These armed groups believe they know better than the civilians and will resort to violence if challenged. Currently, there is no strong civilian opposition, which is a significant issue for the country. The civilians, including politicians from various parties and young people not tied to these groups, have not managed to come together effectively. Young people in the past became professional politicians, but their divisions have led to a fragmented civilian opposition. While the youth made significant strides in 2019, they also faced failures due to their lack of experience. The desire for change must be transformed into a well-organized political movement to face a well-structured regime. You can’t just express anger on the streets without a plan. It’s important to start building the country with civilian and party structures. Engagement must be inclusive, involving all Sudanese from every region, not just those from major cities. Protests should represent urban and rural voices, as well as various ethnic and racial groups. The beauty of 2019 was the diverse unity seen during the protests, where people of different backgrounds came together. Unfortunately, this unique moment was suppressed by the military and certain political parties.

You once mentioned that Sudan’s uprising should not be labeled as part of Arabic Spring like of such in Tunisia Egypt Algeria but, rather as a part of African movement, what’s your final take on this?

The Arab Spring began in 2011, starting in Tunisia and later attempted in Sudan, but it ultimately failed there, which means it doesn’t fit the definition of the Arab Spring. My concern is that Sudan is an African nation with a variety of cultures, opinions, and religions, making its uprising different from those in other Middle Eastern countries. While you could draw some parallels with Algeria, Sudan’s situation is unique due to its diversity. Unlike Middle Eastern countries where it was just opposition against one dictator. in Sudan in my view it was more than that it was more than opposition against a dictator.

Mr. Lindijer’s books in Dutch:
Een kraal in Nairobi, a boma (a nomadic homestead) in Nairobi published in 1993, shares his personal experiences with the Samburu community in Kenya.
His book “Bittereinders,” released in 2004, explores nomadic ethnic groups across Africa. Mr. Lindijer traveled extensively, engaging with pastoralists from various regions, including the Sahara Desert’s Tuaregs and Fulani, the Nuer of South Sudan, and the Maasai and Samburu in Kenya.
In 2013, he published “The Curse of the Nile,” which delves into Sudan’s history, covering topics like the slave trade, racism, and the SPLM’s struggle for independence, leading to the country’s division. Mr. Linder followed the was in the south since 1980 and made several trip in to SPLA territory.
His latest bestseller, “A Skyscraper on the Savannah: 40 Years of Correspondence,” published in 2023, describes based on his own (travel) experiences in nearly all African countries the dramatic changes, where savannah’s, are now being replaced by skyscrapers, symbolising shifts in infrastructure, culture, and politics.

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The Africanist Podcast Sudan: Episode with Mr. Koert Lindijer

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