Assayha publishes the text of Dr. Al Hadi Idris speech, the Governor of Darfur Region and Presidential Council member

 From the wounds of the past to the promise of tomorrow: Darfur leads the new Sudan path

My noble people,

The patriots and valiant fighters, who chose to devote -with sincere dedication- their lives, wealth, and effort for the sake of freedom and social justice. Those who aim to confront -with bravery- the treacherous aggression witnessed following the fifteenth of April, as they set an example of loyalty to the people and the homeland,

The Civil Administrations that were in inaugurated and managed to stand firm in the eye of the storm, along with their leaders and employees, who work under harsh conditions and with scarce means to provide services to the citizens in the region of Darfur, demonstrating that the will is stronger than the enemy’s bullets, thus becoming beacons of sacrifice and benevolence, as well as a symbol of steadfastness in the face of the machine of death and its attempts to eliminate the signs of life.

To the tribal chiefs and the wise elders of the Civil Administration, the guardians of heritage and traditions, and the fountain of wisdom in times of hardship and prosperity,

To the youth of Darfur in the cities, villages, and camps, the flame of the revolution, pulse of change, and the authors of the future,

To the great women of Darfur, creators of life, guardians of hope, and bearers of the banner of the future,

To our teachers, doctors, engineers, farmers, herders, workers, and traders, the arms of construction and the pillars of renaissance,

To our displaced persons and refugees as well; patient in navigating the harshness of displacement and deprivation, as they carry the wounds of the homeland in their hearts and have never been broken,

To the students at our universities and the pupils of schools, the eyes of the future, the minds of Darfur, and the authors of its new dawn,

To our poets, our artists, the bearers of the word, the melody, and the color, who have made the culture a voice for peace, struggle, and freedom, as well as a face of dignity,

To the sons and daughters of this great region, from every tribe, culture, religion, color, and affiliation,

May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon all of you

I choose to address you today at a defining moment in the history of Darfur and Sudan, a moment that represents a true divide between a dark past built upon marginalization, exclusion, and wars and a new future in which we lay the foundations of freedom, social justice, equality, and peace.

With pride and honor, i address you on this glorious day in the history of our region, to the men and women, elderly and the youth, hoping that my words and the messages they carry would find place in your hearts and minds.

You are the creators of this historic moment, through your awareness, your patience, and your noble sacrifices.

Today, as we celebrate the formation of the Government of the Darfur Region, we are not merely celebrating a political event or an administrative structure. Rather, we are celebrating the birth of a new era built upon clear and firm political as well as constitutional values and principles, an era in which the voice of the oppressed citizen rises -clear- above every other voice, as the principles of freedom, coexistence, and brotherhood prevail, and we put forth diligent efforts and strength to address -once and for all- the causes of the wars that have exhausted and destroyed Darfur and Sudan.

Loyal sons and daughters of Darfur,

Our national crisis did not begin on the fifteenth of April, during the year of (2023). But rather, its the result of the accumulation of long decades of unjust central rule that prevailed through all political eras of the old Sudan; a rule that effectively facilitated the process of monopolizing power and wealth by a small elite in the center, excluding all the regions from fair participation in power and equitable distribution of wealth. The old Sudan is a Sudan built upon exclusion, marginalization, and violence, which resulted in repeated and destructive wars, internal conflicts, social fragmentation, poverty, and comprehensive destruction.

In our long and glorious history, our land “Darfur” was never a margin when it came to contributions to building and renaissance. Rather, it was always a land of ancient sultanates, a home of civilization, culture, and trade, and a center of production, diversity, and coexistence. Yet, the unjust policies of the Center turned the region into an arena of incited tribal conflicts, deprived it of its fair share of power and wealth. Then, poverty promptly spread, deepened deprivation, and forced our sons to live in camps of displacement and refuge, while our resources were plundered for the benefit of irresponsible political, military, and economic elites devoid of mercy and vision.

Dear brothers and sisters,

The war of the fifteenth of April (2023) erupted, revealing once again the reality of the old Sudan; that it could only persist by violence or war. This war, an extension of the unjust wars of the Sudanese State, was not the war of the Sudanese people; rather, it was the war of the Islamic Movement and the military elites whom the people overthrew with their glorious December revolution, and who sought to reproduce the old Sudan with all its repressive instruments.

The war destroyed Khartoum and burned towns as well as villages in Kordofan, Darfur, Al-Jazeera, and Sennar; it displaced millions and plunged the country into a new whirlpool of blood and suffering. Nevertheless, it also tore away the last mask of the former regime, confirming -to the people- that it harbors nothing but death and ruin, moreover, regrettably, it acknowledges no language other than bloodshed and fire.

From the womb of this tragedy the idea of a Government of Peace was born in (Nairobi). A government that does not reproduce the past and does not surrender to the hegemony of the military and Islamists, but places the people at the heart of the decision-making process, drawing on the sacrifices of the patriots, the pains and patience of the displaced, the sufferings of farmers and herders, and the aspirations of persevering youth.

What was achieved in (Nairobi) is an unprecedented historic accomplishment in the history of Sudan. There, we reached consensus on two remarkable documents: The Sudan Founding Charter and the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of Sudan for the year (2025). The aforementioned documents are not mere texts; they constitute a new social contract amongst the Sudanese. For we addressed -in the documents- the roots of the historical war and laid the foundations for a new future. We settled therein the relationship between religion and the State, and we declared that the new Sudanese State will be democratic, one that respects diversity in addition to protecting freedoms and rights. Furthermore, we outlined the features of a new national army — an army that does not raise its weapon against its people as in the old Sudan, but protects the land, the people, and property without intervening in politics.

We agreed on the dissolution of the Islamic Movement and the National Congress Party (NCP) along with their militias. In addition, we affirmed the supra-constitutional principles that must not be transgressed in the future.

The contents of both documents representsour vision for the future. This vision is the compass that will guide our steps and the basis on which we will negotiate with all political and social forces. It is this vision that determines how close or far we are from any initiative or project for a comprehensive solution.

Resilient People of Darfur,

Your regional government, which is born today from the Sudan Founding Charter and the Transitional Constitution, carries a simple and clear message to the Sudanese people and the world as well: This region will not be ruled from Port Sudan or Khartoum, moreover, Darfur and its people will not accept the imposition of the military or the Islamists’authority  upon them once again.

This government is the fruit of a lengthy and joint struggle, and it is a responsibility upon all of us. It has come to establish a lasting peace that is not reduced to empty words but translated into tangible reality. A government that clears the path of development, puts an end to the suffering of refugees and the displaced persons, restores their rights and dignity, and establishes a homeland where every individual finds his place and every human being’s value is preserved.

The peace we seek is not a slogan for consumption, but a project for a fulfilling life. Its a peace that returns the displaced to their villages with reassurance; a peace that staunches the bloodshed; that transforms weapons from tools of killing into means of protecting the citizen; a peace that unites the ranks, ends tribalism and regionalism, and restores the national fabric; a peace that makes Darfur the heart of the new Sudan and the model everyone aspires to follow.

Honorable people,

We are fully aware of the scale of the security challenges facing our region: the absence of security in some areas, the repeated targeting of cities and social peace by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) operating under the Islamists’ control, the deprivation of some farmers of their lands, and the suffering endured by some herders in their areas. Therefore, our priorities are clear and firm: To establish special security forces and effective judicial institutions tasked with protecting civilians, confronting lawless elements, imposing the rule of law, and ending the chaos.

Our Darfuri society has suffered significantly from the deliberate divisions sown by the Central authorities, and from the tribal divisions fueled by the security apparatus so that Darfur would remain weak and fragmented. The time to close that page -brimming with divisions- is upon us, as we ought to create a new path towards the future, the main features of which are unity, tolerance, social peace, and solidarity.

It is no longer acceptable that farmers and herders are dragged into futile wars, or that tribal incitement is exploited to ignite strife.

The war taking place today in El-Fasher had no reason to occur. Negotiations amongst the sons of Darfur are a possibility easier to accomplish than carrying arms on behalf of the military elites and Islamists who destroyed Darfur. Whoever chooses to be an agent of those elites does not represent Darfur and does not speak for its people, because Darfur is far greater than to be reduced to the choices of individuals or organizations that have chosen political opportunism over siding with the supreme interests of the people and region of Darfur, the most prominent amongst which is peace and peaceful coexistence between all social components.

From this day forward, Darfur is not reduced to “Zurga (black) and Arabs,” nor is it limited to the concepts of “Arab and non-Arab.” but, it is one nation, with one shared destiny. The destiny of its North is the destiny of its South; the destiny of its Center is the destiny of its East and West as well. We are one nation -the people of Darfur- and with our unity and our joint will, we will rise again, and we shall work with the other regions of Sudan to achieve comprehensive peace, establish a solid democracy, and a just national unity

Honorable brothers and sisters,

After achieving peace and establishing security, the establishment will begin. As reconstruction is not merely limited to stones being laid in place or roads paved, but, before all else, its the act of building the human being. For we will rebuild the schools so that our children may attain their right to education; we will establish hospitals and provide medicine as well as care for every patient; we will rehabilitate villages and infrastructure so that life would return to its natural course. We will restore dignity to the farmer and the herder, and we will support the pastoral and agricultural sectors so they may once again be a source of wealth in addition to economic and social stability. We will establish a Sovereign fund to manage the resources of the region -with complete transparency, whether its gold, gum Arabic, agricultural products, or livestock so that the bounties of Darfur may return to its sons, and not to the pockets of a controlling minority.

Dear families and beloved ones,

The formation of the Government of Darfur is not merely a regional matter, but a national event with far-reaching consequences. Its a message conveying that the era of marginalization has come to an end, and that a new era of justice and freedom has begun. Today, Darfur, despite what the region endured and withstood in the past, represents a lesson and a model for the other regions, declaring that it will be a genuine partner in establishing a new Sudan founded upon democracy, citizenship, and social justice.

Furthermore, Darfur extends its hand to its regional neighbors and to the international community. As the stability of Darfur will not solely benefit its people alone, indeed, its in the best interest of the entire region. The peace in Darfur is the key to the stability of Chad, South Sudan, Libya, Egypt, and the Central African Republic, in addition it contributes directly to the security of the region and to the process of strengthening humanitarian and economic cooperation across borders.

Honorable brothers and sisters

The formation of this government is a declaration of the beginning of a new stage in the history of Darfur and Sudan. A stage in which we mend the wounds of the past and build a different future based on freedom, equality, justice, and development. This is the Government of Peace, the Government of the Darfur Region in the new Sudan. It will not be a government of empty slogans nor of hollow promises, but a government of action and diligent efforts; a government that works for you: for the farmer and the herder, for the student and the displaced, for every citizen who dreams of a better future.

Darfur will no longer be a land of bloodshed, but will be a land of hope and life, the strong fortress of the new Sudan.

Glory be to the martyrs, swift recovery for the wounded, victory to the valiant patriots and strugglers. Glory to the people of Darfur and all people of Sudan