Sudan: A new confrontation around a possible famine – The face of truth – ✍️ Ibrahim Shaqlawi
Sudan is entering a new round of confrontation with the international community, as the Security Council prepares to hold a session tomorrow, Monday, to discuss the issue of possible famine in the country. This step comes in a context of escalating tensions between Sudan and international organizations, which Khartoum accuses of trying to exploit the food crisis as a means of political pressure, while the government confirms that it has good agricultural capacities capable to ensure the country's food security.
In this context, the political and economic dimensions overlap, reflecting the country's determination in the face of new attempts at international pressure. We know that agriculture is one of the fundamental pillars on which Sudan relies to prove its capacity to overcome food crises and constitute a model for a country which depends on its own resources. The Sudanese government relied, according to the statements of the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Abu Bakr Omar Al-Bushra, according to the Sudanese news agency, indicated the day before yesterday figures confirming that Sudan has an enormous agricultural potential which makes the appearance of a famine unrealistic.
Sudan comprises approximately 172 million acres suitable for agriculture, in addition to 18 billion cubic meters of Nile water and 7 billion cubic meters of seasonal water, which constitute sufficient resources to meet the needs of the population and improve food security, particularly with the expected production. during this agricultural season ranging from 6 to 7 million tonnes of cereals and crops.
Faced with these international accusations, the head of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, stressed during the 69th Independence Day speech that Sudan is capable of resisting any attempt to present it as a country unable to meet its needs. of his people. As a result, Al-Burhan's speech is a clear indication of the country's ability to overcome the crisis through its own capabilities, emphasizing that Sudan, with its natural and agricultural resources, can not only cope with the current crises, but also provide regional solutions for food security. .
Sudan's Foreign Ministry also denied in a statement earlier this week that there was a famine in the country and said the reports were aimed at interfering in Sudan's affairs. It is clear that some regional and international organizations are working to promote claims of famine as part of an agenda to pressure the government into entering into negotiations with the “Rapid Support Militia” and its supporters. local and regional. It appears that the timing of these movements coincides with the progression of the Sudanese army's military operations on several axes.
Despite Sudan's withdrawal from the Famine Committee, the minister accused him of having submitted a report different from the one he had prepared in coordination with the Sudanese government's technical team, noting that the new report in which the figures were inflated and transformed into very large numbers. The objective was to convince donors to finance them, but certainly not “to the detriment of the sovereignty of our State nor to the detriment of destabilizing security in our country”.
The government has confirmed that it welcomes humanitarian aid from friendly and brotherly countries, but rejects any attempt to exploit the crisis to impose foreign interventions. Aid can also reach those affected by war without the need to exaggerate the crisis or violate state sovereignty. Thus, given the good rains and their good distribution, the government is very optimistic about the level of agricultural production for this season. FAO, in cooperation with Sudan, is also conducting a study to assess production, and its results are expected to be announced in mid-January.
It is known that Sudan, with its rich agricultural nature, depends on a group of crops that constitute the main food of the population, the most important of which are maize and millet, which constitute the backbone of food security in the Sudan. In addition to wheat, which is a strategic crop on which the winter season focuses. In addition to sesame and peanuts.
It is also clear that there is a political aspect to the crisis, which is highlighted by the escalation of international accusations regarding the expansion of famine, driven by reports such as the Global Food Observatory report. hunger, which indicates that famine could spread. to include five additional regions. These accusations, which observers describe as “exaggerated”, carry political dimensions aimed at putting pressure on the government to weaken its position.
On the other hand, the Sudanese government is taking practical steps to refute these accusations by improving agricultural production and achieving self-sufficiency. One of the most prominent examples is the “Season of Dignity” project in the Northern State, which aims to provide production inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, irrigation and improve agricultural infrastructure, more than a vast agricultural area in the safe country. United States, notably the States of Khartoum, Gezira and Gedaref, which continued to contribute to ensuring the food security of the Sudanese.
These efforts represent a clear message that Sudan, despite challenges, has a vision and plans capable of overcoming the current crisis. Sudan's message to the world, in light of the political escalation around the issue of famine, is to emphasize its capacity to rely. its natural resources and meet the challenges with efficient means of production. This reality indicates that these accusations, despite their seriousness, will not succeed in destabilizing the country's position if the government continues to support farmers and initiatives aimed at supporting agriculture and food security, in addition to providing liquidity, notably to the farmers of Gedaref.
So, based on what we see in reality, it seems that Sudan is on the threshold of a new phase of conflict between the preservation of its national sovereignty and international pressures. While some international parties are trying to use the famine issue as a means of blackmail, Sudan remains capable of overcoming this stage by relying on its own capabilities and strategic plans. Thus, agriculture remains a political and economic weapon in the hands of Sudan to achieve stability and restore security.
May you always be well.
Sunday January 5, 2025 AD. (email protected)
