Osman Mirghani

Osman Mirghani

From Weapons to the State: The Test of Darfur Movements

From time to time, leaders of the Darfur movements that signed the Juba Peace Agreement issue statements that raise both confusion and concern. These statements hint at leveraging arms to consolidate positions or to obtain concessions in exchange for continuing to fight alongside the army against…

What Does the Fourth Year of War Hold for Sudan?

Four years into this conflict, Sudan is now at a critical moment. Either state institutions continue to erode, or the path to recovery accelerates. With time, war ceases to merely destroy infrastructure and begins to reshape society and the economy, imposing ever greater challenges with every year…

Returning to Sudan: A Choice of Necessity, Not Luxury

I heard, from several phone calls with Sudanese individuals in Egypt over the past few days, they expect the return to Sudan to accelerate. After having left due to the conditions of war, the Sudanese are expected to return in large numbers with the launch of a new round of the voluntary return…

Sudan's War and the Strategy of 'Stretching the Peripheries'

Whenever the Sudanese army makes an advance that brings the prospect of ending the war into view, a new front opens, expanding the conflict and perpetuating it. From the early stages, arms have been flowing in from abroad across the borders of several neighboring countries. Recruits and…

The Fog of War in Washington

Trying to wrap your head around the statements of US President Donald Trump and members of his administration leaves you dizzy. Contradictory statements about the causes of the war, its objectives, and how it might end have made it impossible to understand Washington’s thinking. On two separate…

Where Did Iran Go Wrong?

Iran made a mistake when it decided to expand the scope of the war. Instead of confining its response to a direct confrontation with those who had initiated the attack, it chose to expand the flames, targeting neighboring Gulf states and Jordan. With this decision, it shifted from a party with…

What 'Hemedti' Said And Didn’t Say!

Everything about the trip of Rapid Support Forces Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) to Kampala at the end of last week appeared carefully staged and meticulously choreographed, both the form and content. From the flashy outfits to his meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, to his…

Ethiopia and Sudan: The Intersections of Regional War and Security

Three important inferences can be drawn from the recent investigative report published by Reuters. It presents detailed information, supported by satellite imagery, about a fully integrated military support base that is home to an airstrip, a drone control center, and a training facility for…

Is a Ceasefire Imminent in Sudan?

A wave of analyses and interpretations has flooded the Sudanese online space. Some have gone so far as to speak of an imminent peace agreement within the framework of the Quad. A timetable for reciprocal withdrawals by the army and the Rapid Support Forces has even been circulated, with the cities…

Sudan…A Fragile Truce Does Not Mean Peace!

The day the war ends will be one of jubilation for Sudan and its people. Every Sudanese awaits this day; no doubt about it. There is disagreement, however, about how to end the war: under what conditions and for what. There are many visions for how to end the war and conditions required to…