Analysts argue youth are used in the current situation as a “fuel for the ongoing fierce fighting” in the Sudan, warning against demise of any future for either the country or its youth if the war protracts further.
Khartoum: Altaghyeer
The Sudan is living a state of deepening polarization between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF); the two parties to the ongoing war which entered its fifth month a matter that represent a real threat to the future of the youth in a country that is described as a ‘young nation’.
The war erupted in April 15th in the capital Khartoum and spread to Darfur states, where it takes ethnic dimensions, and to Kordufan threatening to plunge the country in a civil war.
With intensification of the war, the RSF militia brought more forces from Darfur, Kordufan and other regions to the capital Khartoum against an appeal by the SAF commander, Chairperson of the coup Sovereign Council Abdul Fatah Al Burhan, to youth and whoever is able to carry arms to join training camps, a matter that threatens to expand militarization and widen the war and violence circles.
Violence incidents
Observers have expressed concern that calling for young people to enlist would prolong the war, now in its fifth month with no tangible victory scored by either side. The entire population are threatened by spread of the armed conflict to places that used to be secure and away from the initial fighting scene, such as safe Al Fula town in West Kordufan, immersed into chaos during the past couple of days, the Analysts noted.
The young people are being attracted to this meaningless war on arguments ranging from money, tribalism and defending the homeland and family honour.
Young country
The Sudan is a young country as people under 25 constitute 61.5% of its population according to the 2008 census, Nafisa Ahmed of the Centeral Statistics Bureau explained.
She affirmed that continuation of the war would affect this category which constitutes the majority of those engaged in the fighting.
Civil war threat
Observers think that mobilization by the two parties to the war may lead to a civil war, given a prevailing feelings of lack of equity towards specific community components, bringing to memory the events of Rwanda.
The United Nations has also warned the SAF- RSF conflict may develop into a civil war.
Why enlisting
The rights activist Abdul Basit Al Haj told Altaghyeer that call for enlisting during wars is not unusual during war situation all over the world as a means to increase the number of fighters. But enlisting on tribal or ethnic basis is dangerous because it affects the social and security setup as a whole.
Al Haj said the RSF has spearheaded enlisting for the current war when it contacted tribes for sending fighters to support it in the war. Therefore, the SAF opened the door of voluntary enlisting for the youth among the civilian population, as civilians are mostly targeted by the RSF.
Population balance
“I think youth enlisting and recruitig will have directly pact the population combination, decreasing the number of yougmen thus affecting production and reducing workforce in the future and could even cause demographic imbalance if the war continues for a longer period, Al Haj added.
He said he is, however, against arming civilians and encouraging them engage in the fighting without a knowledge of rules of engagement a matter that will endanger their lives and may ultimately lead to a civil war.
Fuel of the war
The Political analyst Mohamed Torshain is of the view that Sudan and its youth will have no future with the war. “I think it is impossible to expect a bright future for the young people in such situations that persists for more than four months”, he said, adding that with all these complications young people will be the fuel of this war.
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