I am following with great interest and passion what is happening in Sudan. I love that country and I love its people. They are a generous, authentic and hospitable people even in times of difficulty and hardship. This was clearly demonstrated during the events of the Syrian revolution when they hosted Syrians without conditions or restrictions and treated them just like Sudanese citizens.

Sudan is a rich and diverse country that has now rejected the Bashir regime, which came to power in a military coup against an elected and democratic government. It was a regime that conducted a political circus show, with rapprochement with Iran against the Gulf states and rapprochement with the coup regime in Qatar and Turkey. During the era of this regime, Sudan lost its south, destroyed Darfur and threatened many other areas. The leader of the regime has been accused of supporting terrorism and is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

Sudan has gradually turned into an economic graveyard in which the Sudanese pound has been destroyed. The rate of unemployment has risen to record levels and there has been a great increase in the rate of inflation. But most importantly, there has been a continuous attempt to erase Sudanese identity, and a rise in ethnic and religious intolerance.

Sudan has always been a living example of tolerance and freedom and intellectual creativity in which Muslims lived next to Christians of all sects in peace along with Jews and Armenians and Hindus who lived in Sudan for many years in safety and peace and contentment.

This climate of tolerance led to a creative atmosphere which in the arts produced singers such as Mohammed Wardi and Sayed Khalifa, in literature authors like Tayeb Salih and Al-Hadi Adam, in football Ali Gagarin and Mohamed Mazda, and in the theater actors like Ali Mahdi along with numerous leaders in the fields of medicine, economics, academic education, banking, accounting and law around the world.

The Sudanese people have demonstrated in the streets in a civilized and peaceful manner with no attempt at intimidation. They have shown respect for all, especially for women and a woman Alaa Salah has appeared as an icon to the cheers of the people. It is a patriotic and sincere movement that has not been penetrated by wrongdoers.

There is popular concern in Sudan today with regard to the optimism in the leadership of Abdul-Fattah Burhan Abdul Rahman, the new transitional leader, for fear that he will become a Bashir or Nimeiri but there is hope that he may be the 2019 version of Swar Al-Dahab. There is an old Sudanese saying: “the person who is bitten by a snake is afraid of a rope.” The Sudanese people are the true heroes.