Sudan; the cradle of human civilization…Toward spotlighting Sudan-African historical relationship (1)

Amb. Mubarak Mahjoub Musa

It was not arbitrary that Sudan chose - in terms of slogan and content - Sudanese- African relationship, to be the core of this year's commemoration of the 63rd anniversary of its independence. It comes in recognition of the fact that correlation between Sudan and its African environment is inextricably linked and shall continue to remain rather comparable to the relationship between the soul and the body.

Likewise, it comes to mark and rather conjure - a barely mentioned – exceptional role once player by the Sudan, in supporting the cause and struggle of different liberation movements in Africa, which proves beyond any doubt that Sudan, does not only belong to Africa by merely history and geography, but also in terms of common destiny, unity of goals and genuine identity and belonging.

Translating such values into action, Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Dardiri Mohammad Ahmed, addressing a ceremony organized by the ministry celebrating Public Service Day couple of days ago, has pointed out that Sudanese diplomacy in 2019, in its pursuit to promote Sudan's self-consciousness and pridefulness of its African identity, is poised to pay more attention and prioritize Sudan’s relations with Africa and is utterly set to focalize on the continent's issues in various fields, with special focus on enhancing peace efforts in the Republic of south Sudan, Central Africa Republic and Libya.

It may be useful to recall here that More than 70 percent of Arabic speakers, as a first language, live on the African continent, and their blood is filled with African genes, and their cultures combine Arab and African components. In fact, out of ten Arab countries located in the African continent, Sudan with its richness, diversity, ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic diversity (Microcosm of Africa), keep to possess all what it takes, to act as a bridge of integration of the Afro-Arab renaissance, as clearly manifest today.

Interestingly, and in retrospect of Africa’s liberation history, many Africans today might not be fully aware, that Mandela’s historic visit to Khartoum in early 1960s, seeking military and financial assistance, has marked a big shift of the ANC’s struggle from peaceful to armed struggle.

Like other African capitals of that epoch, both politically and emotionally, Khartoum was in the apogee of its sympathy and solidarity with the cause of freedom and liberation in Africa. Sudanese people and institutions were fervently and publically mobilized not only to fill the streets demonstrations of solidarity, but also generously donated for the cause of armed struggle in Africa; Sudan trade union alone– for example but not limited to - has donated 25 thousands of sterling pounds.

Sudan trained hundreds of African freedom fighters on its soil, sparing no effort to help African liberation movements. In fact, at a certain time, Sudan was the only outlet for African militants abroad. Fighters, such as Joshua-nkomo, the leader of the struggle in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Sam Nujoma of Namibia, to name a few, have received diplomatic, political and financial support from a number of African countries including the Sudan.

More and above, Sudanese Military supplies and equipment were secretly shipped to the ANC via Dar el Salam in Tanzania. Photocopies of documents proving the Sudan's financial contribution to the ANC, as well as shipments of arms and ammunition are still available. These military supplies were passed on to fighters not only in South Africa; but in Angola and Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South West Africa.

More interestingly, when the siege and surveillance of the apartheid-regime got intensified against freedom militants, and in order to enable Mandela to shuttle lobbying for assistance and solidarity, the government of the Sudan in 1962 issued Nelson Mandela with Sudanese diplomatic passport, which made it possible for him to shuttle between Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco in his efforts to raise further financial and military support of the ANC.

Diplomatically, It should be equally noted that Sudan, was one of first countries in Africa that promptly translated into action, the African call to boycott the apartheid regime in South Africa and its immediate supporters and benefactors: Sudan's commitment and fidelity went to the extent of preventing at a time, the British Airways from overflying, landing and refueling at Khartoum Airport.

Nelson Mandela's gratitude and recognition for the Sudan’s role, was revealed long years after nevertheless; when an American media company went to make a documentary on Nelson Mandela upon his internationally marked release in 1990, by focusing on his struggle stations; south Africa, Eritrea and Mozambique and elsewhere. Nelson Mandela on his part, – and perhaps to the very surprise of his interlocutors, advised them to start their documentary in Sudan; because according to Mandella, Sudan was where his primary struggle has actually started.

On the other hand, Dr. Dardiri further revealed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working closely with the other competent authorities to rebrand, feature and introduce Sudan's prominent and merited role in both modern and ancient civilization of Africa. Likewise, to dispel, many wicked delusions fueled - inter alia - by years of civil conflict in Sudan.

In other words, many people around the world, the very mention of Sudan calls forth images of civil war, instability, and poverty. However always lost in the narrative, are the stories of ancient Sudanese and African kingdoms of Kush and Nubia that once rivaled Egypt, Greece and Rome. Lost in the narrative –to name few- the very fact that Sudanese Nubians are the ones who actually started the ancient Egyptian civilization, and a lot more, as shall be detailed hereinafter.

Sudan foreign minister Dr. Dardiri, shed a particular light on the fact that Sudan's extended struggle against invaders and colonists was not only confined to the British or the Ottoman Turks, but as – recent historical archeological findings reveal- extends back since the time immemorial.

Dr. Dardiri referred in particular, to queen Amanishakheto, one of many African Sudanese great warrior queens of the Kushitic Kingdom of Meroë (Nubia). Queen Amanishakheto who reigned from around 10 BC to 1 AD, is exceptionally famous for having quashed the invading Roman army sent by Augustus the first emperor of the Roman empire, to conquer Nubia.

Queen Amanishakheto was a strong, and powerful woman, and a great pyramid builder. Her tomb at Meroë remains as one of the largest ever built in the Sudan. More interestingly, more than 350 pyramids grouped in five sites were so far discovered in Sudan. They were constructed in Nubia over a period of a few hundred years, to serve as tombs for the kings and queens and wealthy citizens of Napata and Meroë.

But alas! In perhaps one of the biggest antiquities’ thefts Sudan had ever seen, the priceless treasure of gold and jewels of the said Sudanese African queen Amanishakheto, were stolen in an open daylight from her pyramid in Meroe, in the early 19th Century by the infamous Italian explorer and treasure-hunter, Giuseppe Ferlini.

The restoration and retrieval of these Sudanese monuments and artifacts, which shall obviously contribute positively to the prosperity of the promising tourism sector in the Sudan, becomes a national duty and legitimate right that should not be abandoned, as these treasures represent an integral part of Sudan’s history and civilization.

Luckily enough, most of the looted Sudanese antiquities are already registered and are closely monitored by the Sudanese competent authorities. In fact, a matrix has already been prepared, featuring not only the number and classification of these artifacts, but also the museums and the countries where they are currently displayed. Sudan is aware as well, that some of these artifacts have been shipped away under colonial laws, and thereby require perseverance and legal methods besides, ratification of relevant international conventions.

Sudan, the footsteps of other African countries, whose treasures and antiquities have been looted, however, later managed to recover most of them, or agreed to the least, with the exhibiting museums to return the rest of them or set up bases for their presentation abroad. Sudan l has already unleashed a concerted campaign, in coordination with UNESCO and friendly countries, to restore thousands of smuggled Sudanese antiquities, which

Conclusive evidence dating back to ancient times up to colonial era –fully attested by historians and anthropologists- reveal the mammoth robbery African artifacts by Europe and America. The importance of these African artifacts, pillaged during colonial periods and beyond, is not merely aesthetic; as they remain part and parcel of African identity, therefore, Africans need to come together and speak in one voice vis-à-vis this issue.

The late Zairian president Mobutu Sese Seko goes down in history, as the first African leader to have raised such issue at the international level; in 1974 at the United Nations General Assembly, Sese Seko depicted it as “grave injustice to humanity and not just the people Africa’, the continued retention of these priceless works in museums, public offices and private collections all over the Western world. "

In conclusion, African fair pursuit and strenuous efforts to restore these treasures, must be treated with at least the same equity, fairness and compromise, accorded for instance to Israeli vis-à-vis its Jewish artworks and antiquities presumably stolen by the Nazis during the holocaust; when exerted efforts fructified in the retrieval and recovery of every single traceable artwork belonging to the families of Jewish holocaust victims, to their respective surviving families or to the Government of Israel.