We are meeting with Mohamed Tebin, a member of the Sudan Movement led by Abdowahid Nour and the leader of the Sudanese Community. Let’s begin with the general context of colonialism, including the role of international laws and/or the UN. The current situation and personal stories (if you’d like to share). The role of Canada in the situation
What does colonialism mean to you? And how has Sudan been affected by that?
Colonialism refers to the practice where a powerful nation establishes control over the weaker countries, exploiting their resources, labour and land.
This system was largely driven by European powers between the 15th and 20th centuries.
Economic Exploitation: colonizers extracted wealth through forced labour, resource extraction and trade monopolies. Cultural suppression that includes the indigenous Language, religious and traditions was often marginalized or erased. Political control: colonial administrations imposed foreign governance structures, often dismantling the existing system. Social Hierarchies: Racial and ethnic divisions were institutionalized, creating long-lasting inequalities. Sudan was colonized by the British and Egypt from 1899 to 1956. In this period, the Sudan’s wealth was stolen, and racial and ethnic groups were divided, creating inequality; moreover, local languages were marginalized and erased. Sudan gained independence in 1956. There was a civil war between North and South, largely over religious, ethnic and economic issues. Millions of people were killed. The first phase, from 1955 to 1972 led by Anana One. It started a giant from 1983 to 2005; it was considered as longest civil war. The Darfur Conflict started in 2000 in the Western Sudan and became the site of a conflict and humanitarian crisis. That between the Sudan Liberation Movement And the Sudan Army. In this case Sudanese army supported the Arab people with weapons to kill the black people. Many people were killed by the Sudanese army. Al Bashir, who was the president of the Sudan at that time, declared that only 300 people were killed. ICC announced the people who committed the crime. They are 51 must be arrested, but only one was tried last month after the evidence.
What is the role of international law or the UN towards colonialism?
International law has played a dual role in colonialism – both as the tool of justification and as a mechanism for redress.
Early international law.legitimized colonial expiration under doctrines like terra nullius, which means land with no body. After the Second World War, the UN became a key force in dismantling colonial empires. The decision of 1514 in 1960 declared the right of all people to self-determination.
What are the personal stories that you like?
I have no personal story about that, but the impact of colonialism affected our societies.
What is the role of Canada in the situation?
Canada played a multifaceted and proactive role in addressing global challenges and promoting international cooperation. Canada is an active member of the international organization, including the G7, G20, United Nations, NATO, NORAD, and the Commonwealth. These memberships allow Canada to influence global policy and support Multilateralism.
In Sudan, Canada supports humanitarian aid that includes food, protection, health care, sanitation, water and education in addition to the development Assistance. This program is designed to strengthen the social infrastructure and peacekeeping, participate in a UN mission in Sudan and provide immigration protection for people affected by the conflict and take steps to help people displaced by conflict, including evacuation measures, family reunification pathways and other temporary emergency measures.
Can you tell us about the historical resistance movement?
There are historical resistance movements and temporary resistance movements. One of the historical resistance movements is the Haitian Revolution from 1791 to 1804. It was led by people including Toussian, Laverture. They overthrew the French Colonial and established Haiti as the first black republic.
The historical Sudanese resistance movement was the Sudan Popular Liberation Movement. It was founded by Dr Gring in South Sudan after the separation. There is still SPLM in North Sudan led by Alhelo.
There is a contemporary movement founded by Abdo Alwahed Nour in 2000, and his comrades. This movement has a vision of the Solution to the Sudan crisis. This movement has an impact role of Sudanese awareness because it has students at universities, and I was one of these students. These students played a great role in raising the awareness of the Sudanese. From December 2019, there have been committees that a local group organized protests and civil disobedience against military rule. They were looking for civilian governance. It started in 2019 and overthrew the Bashir regime, which was wanted by the ICC. After that Sudanese chose Hamadok as the general minister of the Sudan. In October 2021, Al Borhain had a military coup. There is another group called the Rapid Support Force led by Himati. He is with Alborhan in authority with the national
military. That means there are two armies in authority after the coup, the Sudan National Army and the Rapid Support Forces, first led by Brhan, the second by Himati. On April 15, 2023 there was conflict occurred between them. Over 12,6 million people have been displaced, 25 million people face acute food insecurity, and famine has been confirmed.17 million children are out of school due to the conflict is ongoing conflict.
Sudan Liberation Movement, which is led by Abdo Alwaed Nour, is neutral. They didn’t participate in the war, so many displaced people came to the safe area, special in the city called Tawiala. The majority of the displaced people came from Al Fashir, Kordofan, Khartoum and other Darfur cities. These displaced people currently need assistance such as food, medicine, and clean water. The leader of SLM has a vision of the Sudanese crisis, which is the Sudanese Sudanes dialogue, then Sudanese leaders can ask historical questions, why most country has civil wars since 1955? Why
Oh, sorry! It is a really complicated situation in Sudan. Let us take a break, then we have the last question.
What does Liberation mean to you? And what is the dream?
Liberation is the unshackling of the human spirit. It is not freedom from the chains; it is freedom to be.
To speak to move, to dream, to dissent, to love without fear. It is the moment when dignity is no longer negotiable. Liberation is not merely a transfer of power from one authority to another; it is a profound transformation in human consciousness and dignity. Liberation is the restoration of humankind’s ability to determine their destiny and live in a just society that respects their dignity and freedom. Liberation for the Sudanese today means first reclaiming their humanity. Freeing themselves from fear, from the culture of hatred, and from the illusion of tribe, sect, and the single party. Realizing that a nation is not built with weapons but with conscience, not with revenge but with justice. True liberation begins with liberating consciousness, because political change cannot endure unless people change internally. It is a moral and psychological revolution before it is a political one. The nation-state we await in Sudan is not a state of force, but a state of conscience and citizenship. A state where the law is sovereign, citizenship is the bond, and diversity is the source of creativity. There is no nation without reconciliation with oneself, no reconciliation without justice, and no justice without freedom.
Our dream is freedom, where everyone can move, speak, love, and resist without fear. We need justice; every who commits crimes must be tried. We need social peace, which means everyone can accept each other without hate. We need democracy, everyone can be a leader of Sudan, we don’t care where he is from! If he comes from Darfur or western Sudan, Northern Sudan or even comes from Khartoum, you have dignity. Cry, Cry beloved country, cry for tradition which has gone away, no Islamic government a gaint, no brimetive government a gaint, the law must protect everyone in the Sudan.
