The Face of Truth | Ibrahim Shglawi
Libraries and the Sudanese Memory
In the fall of 2017, I participated in the 28th conference of the Arab Federation for Libraries and Information (IFLA) held in Cairo, where this experience reflected the importance of Arab cooperation in supporting cultural and library-related issues.
Today, amid the ongoing war since April 2023, there is a question: To what extent can our Arab brothers and international supporters respond to Sudan’s call, especially after the destruction and looting of many historical libraries that have affected the national memory? The importance of this question grows in light of the anticipated role of the Sudanese Library and Information Association, which is tasked with leading efforts in rehabilitation and awareness, relying on its previous experience and regional partnerships.
Sudanese libraries, throughout their long history, have been a knowledge edifice reflecting the cultural memory of the nation, and they have been centers of intellectual and cultural radiance, offering valuable contributions to supporting cultural activities. However, today, due to the war, they stand as silent witnesses to the collapse of knowledge. Books have been torn, manuscripts stolen, and halls have turned into deserted ruins.
The war has not distinguished between military sites, cultural centers, and media institutions. Therefore, it seems that targeting libraries was part of a systematic strategy followed by militias to eliminate national awareness and dismantle the Sudanese state’s knowledge infrastructure.
The systematic targeting of libraries, as indicated by historical experiences in Iraq and Syria, is not an incidental cultural loss, but a tool to reshape awareness and erase national identity. At this moment in Sudan’s history, the nation faces a real danger of losing its collective memory, which for decades has been a repository of knowledge and cultural awareness. The destruction of Sudanese libraries is the destruction of the nation’s mirror that reflects its scientific, intellectual, and political development.
Despite these challenges, we look forward to calls from cultural stakeholders and civil society organizations to help address the crisis and preserve the damaged libraries. In this context, the Sudanese Library and Information Association stands at the forefront of the expected efforts, due to its vital role in such initiatives and awareness campaigns.
This, in addition to its ability to launch calls for the rehabilitation of the damaged libraries, as well as its potential to mobilize local and international support through memoranda of understanding that have already been announced with cultural and humanitarian organizations in our international and regional spheres.
This call requires the activation of partnerships with volunteer and humanitarian organizations, as well as attracting international donors and supporters in a framework that guarantees sustainability and the protection of knowledge rights.
However, amid these civil movements, the absence of official institutions, particularly the Ministry of Culture and Information, remains the major dilemma. Until now, the Sudanese government has not provided a clear plan to rehabilitate libraries or protect what remains of them. This disturbing vacuum clearly reflects the crisis of the central state and increases the burden on civil initiatives that suffer from limited resources.
Rebuilding Sudanese libraries should be an essential part of a national strategy for rebuilding the state and society, not just an isolated cultural project. Culture is the primary gateway to achieving sustainable peace and national reconciliation, as demonstrated by the experiences of countries that have suffered from conflicts and wars.
Despite the challenges, the current crisis represents an opportunity to restructure the Sudanese library system and transform it into a model that keeps pace with the digital age and promotes decentralization in knowledge management. In this transformation, digital technology can be used to preserve the national archive and make knowledge more accessible to all segments of society, especially through partnerships with international institutions specialized in digital archiving and information technology.
The experiences of countries that have faced similar challenges offer valuable lessons that Sudan can benefit from. For example, after the civil war in Lebanon, the state, in cooperation with France and cultural organizations, was able to revive the National Library, which became a cultural landmark reflecting the national identity after the division.
Similarly, in Rwanda after the genocide, small libraries were established in villages and community centers, serving as platforms for reconciliation, trust-building, and peace enhancement, supported by both international and local initiatives.
These experiences show that rebuilding libraries is not merely a cultural activity, but part of a comprehensive strategy for rebuilding the individual and reviving national identity.
Libraries restore control over memory and the future. Therefore, Sudan needs to approach the issue of libraries as a national priority in the path of reconstruction.
What is happening in Sudan today, according to #The_Face_of_Truth, is not only a humanitarian crisis or an existential war, but a direct threat to the nation’s memory and cultural identity. The destruction of knowledge undermines the future. Restoring Sudanese libraries to their former status is not a cultural luxury, but a national necessity for rebuilding the meaning of the nation and shaping a comprehensive national project that lifts the country and restores the nation’s glory.
Stay safe and healthy.
Monday, September 29, 2025
Shglawi55@gmail.com
