Save the Cradle of Mankind Cultural Approach and Perspective for Peace in Sudan Aladdin Abumedian

03:44 PM November, 11 2023

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Save the Cradle of Mankind

Cultural Approach and Perspective for Peace in Sudan

Aladdin Abumedian

Geography, History, and Culture

Sudan lies in northeastern Africa at the Red Sea and is the third largest country in Africa after the self – determination referendum held in 2011 and the emergence of South Sudan state. The land has a total area of 1,879,358 km² (725,623 mi²) and a total coastline of 853 km (530.0 mi) with a population of about 40 million capita. Sudan is the world's top producer of gum arabic, amounting to roughly 80% of the world production. Sudan serves as the tenth largest gold producer in the world and the third in Africa as well as other natural resources, human resources and its geostrategic location. While the exact geographical origin of Mankind (homo sapiens) has been capable of controversial for centuries among scientists on whether the cradle of mankind was in current Sudan or in current Ethiopia, the findings of University of Oxford study published in 2022 put an end to that controversy through the unified tree sequence of chromosome 20 and the biggest digital mankind tree which proved that current Sudan is the cradle of mankind (1). It is worth mentioning that Sudan people generally believes that Sudan is also the cradle of civilized community in Africa at least. In fact, this thread is deeply interwoven in the feelings of the 2 neighbouring countries of Sudan and Egypt. But According to recent "excavations surveyed between 2012 and 2014 in Sudan by archaeologists from the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, The remains of a settlement estimated to 70,000 years old have been unearthed by Polish archaeologists in northern Sudan – a find that seems to contradict the previously held belief that the construction of permanent structures was associated with the so – called Great Exodus from Africa and occupation of the colder regions of Europe and Asia. The site known as Affad 23, is currently the only one recorded in the Nile Valley which shows that early Homo sapiens built sizeable permanent structures, and had adapted well to the wetland environment. This new evidence suggests that humans reached a much more advanced level of development and adaptation in Africa during the Middle Palaeolithic" (2).

Causes of the current crisis

Sudan's independence from the Anglo – Egyptian colonialism was on January1, 1956. But independence has led to a continuous cycle of political – social instability and wars due to inability to creatively manage cultural and ethnic diversity, as well as an inability to adopt a gradual policies and tools to meet the people's desire for freedom, peace, justice and welfare as fair compensation for the long sufferings of the Sudanese people who are well – aware about the potential of their rich country. In the meanwhile, tangible reality would describe Sudan's richness as (Mixed Blessing). After the peaceful revolution in 2018 some chronic problems have aggravated as a result of accumulation without any agreed upon solutions. This includes, but not limited to the military coup of October 25, 2021, the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (The Sudanese Army) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023 on the basis of political – military disputes. These disputes revolved around the time limit for the integration of the Rapid Support Forces into the Sudanese army, the nature of the military leadership hierarchy of the Rapid Support Forces, and specifically whether the RSF under the integration period will report to the civilian authority directly, or through the Sudanese Army.

Different perspectives

Perspectives on the ongoing crises can be summarized in two main approaches: The first approach believes that the solution lies in going ahead with the process of dissolving the Rapid Support Forces and forming a unified Sudanese army, whether through negotiation or a military solution, then comes the formation of a civilian – led transitional government through a Sudanese – Sudanese dialogue to address rehabilitation and suspended issues such as constitution, election law, population census...etcetera; and The second approach sees the solution lies in participation of the Sudanese civilians in the negotiation between the Sudanese Army and the RSF to discuss all related issues.

Required role from Canada and Canadian community – Together we can

Sudan is a country that enjoys richness and diversity in natural and human resources with an excellent geostrategic location. What it lacks is what the state and society of Canada have! Not only mere systems, laws and regulations in managing natural and human resources, managing diversity, quality and free public education, and other facilities that develops government performance and upgrades communities, but also, and deeply to the point, the Direct Proportionality between quality education and good usage of systems as well as direct proportion between good quality education and political awareness…Thus, sustainable democratic governance and development systems require a democratic culture and awareness in its long march to become a mindset. Hence, we look forward to the Canadian government and Canadian community to play a role that focuses on the following main aspects:

· Training and transferring the experience of creating systems, laws and regulations that ensure the development of Freedom, Peace, Justice and Welfare aspects in the short, medium and long term in Sudan;
· Creating partnerships with Sudan in education and other sectors with a major approach to develop public education and beyond to serve the sustainability of democratic transition processes, sustainable development, and consolidating the culture of democracy.

Saving the Cradle of Mankind is everyone Responsibility

(1) science.org/doi/epdf/10.1126/science.abi8264
(2) archaeology.wiki/blog/2014/07/21/70000-year-old-african-settlement-unearthed

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