Face of Truth | Ibrahim Shglawi
Doha Forum: Redefining Sudan and Supporting the Transition
The Doha Institute for Graduate Studies hosted the Sudan Food Security Forum on October 4 and 5, 2025, under the theme: “Effective Partnership for Achieving Food Security Amid Crises.” The forum came at a highly sensitive time, both politically and economically, as the Arab world faces increasing threats to its food security due to conflicts, climate change, and disrupted supply chains.
But the most important political message the forum conveyed was the redefinition of Sudan as part of the solution to the food crisis in the Arab world. This was clearly reflected in the participation of Sudanese Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Professor Ismat Qureshi, who came with a clear vision, practical positions, and direct engagement, reflecting the Sudanese government’s desire to move from political and security rhetoric to promoting opportunities and practical solutions.
Sudan possesses 174 million acres of arable land, of which more than 106 million acres remain unused, in addition to vast water resources that could be restructured and invested more effectively, especially given the changing water landscape in East Africa after the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
While the dam is seen in some circles as a potential threat to Sudan and Egypt, Sudan, if it manages the Blue Nile waters wisely—investing, utilizing, and distributing them—can achieve stable and regular irrigation periods. This would create a more stable agricultural environment than in past decades and enable strategic crop planning that benefits both Sudan and Arab food security.
This is what turned the forum from merely a scientific symposium into a platform for delivering political and regional messages. Chief among them: Sudan, despite its political and economic crises, remains qualified to lead a collective Arab initiative for food security—provided there is organized Arab support free from greed, along with bold internal reforms and attractive policies.
The prominent appearance of Sudanese Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Ismat Qureshi, was pivotal in conveying a clear political message: that the Sudanese government views agriculture as an economic lifeline, an effective tool for rebuilding the national economy, and a means to achieve a strategic partnership with the Arab world—especially as other productive sectors have collapsed due to war and conflict.
The Al-Hawad Agricultural Project, currently one of the largest proposed agricultural development projects in Sudan, spans over five million acres and covers states such as the Nile River, Khartoum, Al-Jazirah, Gedaref, and Kassala. The project is not merely about agricultural production, but about building a comprehensive model that includes infrastructure, livestock production, manufacturing, and services, in a flexible partnership between the state, private sector, and local communities.
This model, if it finds serious partners like Qatar or Saudi Arabia, could form the nucleus of a real agricultural renaissance. Saudi Arabia, for its part, has accumulated significant experience in foreign agricultural investment and now seeks more stable and productive markets.
Sudan remains geographically closest, richest in resources, and most prepared—if the legal and institutional environment is structured properly—to receive long-term Gulf investments. Such cooperation is measured not only by material returns, but by the strategic weight Sudanese agriculture can add to the Arab food security system.
What makes this vision feasible is the growing sense in regional circles that Sudan, if neglected, could become a gap that no amount of humanitarian aid can fill. Building its self-capabilities is the most effective and efficient path. This was affirmed by the President of the Doha Institute, Abdulwahab El-Affendi, who noted that food security cannot be achieved by ignoring the role of farmers themselves, nor through chaotic policies, but through radical reforms that ensure market efficiency, fair distribution, and professional planning.
The forum also stood out by integrating the visions of academics and researchers with field expertise. Sudanese businessman Wadji Mirghani presented a scientific paper supported by maps and figures, discussing the reality of agriculture in Sudan—with all its challenges, opportunities, and contradictions. The presentation offered a frank diagnosis of production deficits, low efficiency, and lack of governance, alongside a strategic vision of what Sudan could become by 2031 if modern production projects based on technology and sound governance are launched.
All of this turned the forum into a platform that implicitly poses the big question: Are we witnessing a true turning point in how Sudan is perceived? Will it remain on the margins of regional calculations, or are we entering a mature moment of recognition that Sudan is not a burden, but a strategic asset? The answer to this question does not lie in conference promises alone, but in the ability of parties to translate these discussions into executable frameworks—on which companies can be built, agreements signed, and the relationship between state and investor, land and law, redefined.
Qatar’s presence was notable through the participation of institutions such as Qatar Fund for Development, Qatar Red Crescent, and Qatar Charity—clearly signaling Qatar’s commitment to supporting Sudan through strategic partnerships aimed at enhancing its productive capabilities, especially in the agricultural sector.
This Qatari participation demonstrates a deep awareness that agricultural investment has become a strategic necessity amid increasing regional challenges in food and water. Dr. Ihab Saad, Dean of the School of Economics, Management, and Public Policy, pointed to the stark contradiction between Sudan’s immense agricultural potential and its low actual productivity. Although the agricultural sector employs about 60% of the workforce, it contributes no more than 30% to GDP—a gap he attributed to a lack of accurate data and specialized studies, which hinders effective planning and policymaking for this vital sector.
What the Doha Forum presented, according to #Face_of_Truth, was not merely technical recommendations, but a clear political message: Despite its challenges, Sudan still has the capacity to offer solutions for Arab food security—if its potential is properly invested. What is needed now is to move from talk to urgent field action—because time does not wait. The forum serves as a strategic compass that underscores the importance of Sudan’s role in this area, and the real opportunity for agricultural partnership that must be seized before the food crisis and climate impacts worsen.
Wishing you well and in good health.
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Shglawi55@gmail.com
