War is not just guns and bullets

By Thanaa Abdeen

With the outbreak of war in Sudan, now entering its fourth month, there has been a significant increase in speeches promoting violence and hatred, as evident on social media platforms and some media outlets.

Amidst this rhetoric, one can observe the presence of certain individuals, both women and men, on social media, especially on Facebook, who have positioned themselves to speak on behalf of certain tribal or supra-ethnic entities supporting one of the conflicting parties.

These figures have become infamous on social media for disseminating the poison of tribal and regional bias in a strange dialect. There is no doubt that they are part of internal and external agendas seeking to fragment Sudan. Unfortunately, they garner many views and followers online, and perhaps their creators are unaware that their actions further ignite the war and expand its scope, turning mere words into shells and bombs that intensify the blaze and increase the number of innocent victims, as seen in Genena, West Darfur, and elsewhere.

In reality, Sudans diversity is one of the distinctive features of this country, setting it apart from others. However, this diversity has not been managed properly, resulting in numerous problems, including fueling the current conflict. This necessitates taking measures to avoid the spread of the disease of hatred speech to other parts of the country that have not directly experienced war.

There is a significant responsibility resting on the shoulders of those concerned with the countrys welfare, both individuals and institutions. They are expected to play an active role in fostering a culture of peace, rejecting violence, and refusing to demonize the other, to preserve the rest of the homeland.