Saturday, The 25Th Of Ramadan... The Militia's Betrayal Three Years Since The War Began

History returns today heavy with the memory of fire and blood.
What began as a quiet Ramadan morning devoted to worship suddenly turned into the thunder of artillery. Millions of families fled with only what they could carry, expecting a brief absence that instead stretched into years. The humanitarian cost has been immense, yet the resilience of society continues to carve paths of hope.

Today marks three full years since the outbreak of war in Sudan according to the Islamic calendar. On Saturday, the 25th of Ramadan, Sudanese citizens awoke to the crack of gunfire and the roar of warplanes-an abrupt moment that transformed a month of devotion and tranquility into the stage for one of the harshest wars in the country's modern history. Shock and confusion swept across the nation, yet amid the tragedy Sudanese society responded with remarkable resilience, sustained by solidarity, volunteerism, and a deeply rooted culture of mutual support.

A Striking Paradox

On the morning of Saturday, the 25th of Ramadan 1444 AH, few could have imagined that the first hours of fasting would mark the beginning of a prolonged national tragedy. The familiar atmosphere of Ramadan-when people usually prepare to welcome the final ten nights with calm and worship-was suddenly replaced by scenes of gunfire, smoke, and panic.

Perhaps the most striking irony in Sudanese memory is that the calendar today returns to that same moment: Saturday, the 25th of Ramadan, exactly three years after the war began. It is as if time itself is reminding the nation of the day when life abruptly changed. What was once an ordinary date in the Ramadan calendar has become deeply engraved in the collective memory of Sudanese people, symbolizing the beginning of a war whose consequences still shape the daily lives of millions who, overnight, found themselves confronting a new and unforgiving reality.

Shock and Confusion

On that Ramadan Saturday morning, Khartoum awoke to the heavy sound of artillery and fierce clashes near military sites. Warplanes circled above the city, which only hours earlier had been immersed in the quiet rhythm of fasting.

Citizens were gripped by shock. Families hurriedly gathered whatever belongings they could carry and left their homes, believing their departure would last only a few days until the situation stabilized. Yet the absence they thought temporary stretched into months, then years. Today the war enters its fourth year, while thousands of Sudanese remain displaced or living as refugees, longing for homes they left behind in the hope of eventual return.

Expansion of the War

As events unfolded, the conflict expanded from what began as a failed mutiny against the Sudanese Armed Forces into a large-scale confrontation whose heaviest price was paid by civilians. Entire neighborhoods, once peaceful residential areas, were drawn into the fighting. Government institutions, service facilities, and civilian buildings were turned into military positions and battlegrounds.

The flames of war spread to several Sudanese states following the collapse of the militia's attempt to seize power. The ambitions of its commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo-known as“Hemedti”-to take control of the capital and broadcast a declaration of authority ultimately failed. In the aftermath of that failure, however, the weapons turned toward civilians and their homes, accompanied by widespread and systematic destruction of infrastructure and the targeting of vital facilities that once formed the lifelines of the country.

Hardship and Resilience

Over the past three years, Sudan has paid a heavy humanitarian price. Large numbers of people have been killed or wounded, while unprecedented waves of displacement and refuge have forced millions of Sudanese to flee within the country and beyond its borders.

The war has profoundly affected society: families have been separated, homes destroyed, schools and universities disrupted, and essential services severely weakened. Daily life has been reshaped by the realities of displacement, exile, and the constant search for safety and livelihood.

Yet alongside this hardship, striking examples of resilience have emerged. Across Sudan, community initiatives have risen to meet urgent needs-most notably the widespread establishment of free community kitchens known locally as takaya. Numerous youth and civic initiatives have also formed networks of humanitarian support, providing relief to those affected both inside Sudan and among refugee communities abroad. These efforts reflect the enduring strength of social bonds that have long characterized Sudanese society.

A Moment in History

Whatever the circumstances, Saturday the 25th of Ramadan now stands as a defining date in Sudan's contemporary history. It marks the beginning of a profound national tragedy, yet it also serves as a reminder of society's capacity for endurance and unity in the face of adversity.

As the war enters its fourth year, hope persists that Sudan will reclaim its security and stability. Perhaps one day this date will be remembered not only as the beginning of suffering, but also as a milestone on the long road toward recovery-when the nation regained its health, preserved its sovereignty, and restored its unity.

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