The Face of Truth | Dr. Ibrahim Shaqlawi Al-Mirghani: The Garang Agreement and the Six Directions
The passing of His Eminence Sayyid Mohammed Osman Al-Mirghani is an event that calls upon Sudan’s political, social, and religious memory. He was one of the figures whose presence was closely associated with the history of the national movement and with efforts to find a formula that could bring Sudanese people together despite their differences. With his departure, we do not merely lose a religious and political figure; we revisit a chapter in the country’s history, with all the opportunities for consensus it carried and the shortcomings it revealed in managing differences and prioritising the national interest.
The late leader also held a special place in my heart, rooted in intimate family memories. My late father held exceptional esteem and deep respect for the Khatmiyya leaders, and would not accept that they be mentioned except in a context of affection and respect. Perhaps I did not fully understand the dimensions of that affection at the time, but today I recognise how values are passed down through generations.
Perhaps what stands out most in the political experience of this distinguished and noble figure was his ability to seek common ground at moments when polarisation was too intense to allow calm reflection. His agreement with the late Dr. John Garang in Addis Ababa, in November 1988, remains a revealing milestone of this spirit. It was a serious attempt to open a path towards ending the war and addressing the roots of the crisis through political and constitutional dialogue, addressing issues of governance, identity, and the relationship between religion and the state, while restoring the principle of Sudan’s unity on the basis of understanding rather than coercion.
That agreement, therefore, was not merely an understanding between a political party and an armed movement. It carried a vision that extended beyond its signatories to encompass the country’s future and its awareness of the political moment. It included a ceasefire and proposed addressing the September Laws by suspending some of their provisions until the convening of the Constitutional Conference, alongside issues relating to the state of emergency and national sovereignty. The agreement may not have been a complete formula for resolving a complex crisis, but it opened a political window upon which progress could have been built, and through which the ability to bring Sudanese forces together around an inclusive national project could have been tested.
However, the political experience also revealed one of the deepest dilemmas in Sudanese politics: the difficulty of separating one’s position on an initiative from one’s position on the person behind it. Intellectual and ideological objections became intertwined with calculations of party competition and influence. The success of an initiative led by a political rival became a source of reservation for some competitors, rather than an opportunity to expand the prospects for peace. Here lies the paradox: differences in vision are a legitimate right, but they lose their national value when they become an obstacle to an opportunity that could save the country.
The problem was not the diversity of positions, as this is inherent in political life, but rather the absence of the ability to manage differences without sacrificing the public interest. Political forces would have been better served by viewing the agreement as a national opportunity open to discussion and development, rather than as a partisan gain that had to be resisted and weakened. Not everything a party gains is a gain for the nation, just as not everything achieved by a political rival constitutes a loss for others. This is not merely political wisdom; it is a fundamental principle in state-building. The value of initiatives is not measured by who stands behind them, but by the horizons they open for the people and the country.
From this perspective, the wisdom of the Six Directions offers an appropriate entry point for understanding the experience of the leader of the Khatmiyya order and head of the Democratic Unionist Party – Original. Looking at issues from only one direction obscures half the truth, whereas political leadership requires seeing conflicting interests, understanding concerns, assessing consequences, and searching for common ground where those who differ can meet. It is a form of wisdom in reading reality, not avoiding disagreement, and in recognising that the nation is greater than political parties, and that historical moments may require everyone to reconsider their calculations.
This is the lesson Sudan needs today more than ever. The war has left no room for further political manoeuvring, monopolising initiatives, or competing over who leads and who reaps the benefits of a settlement. What is required is a transition from the logic of dominance and scoring political points to the logic of national responsibility, so that the success of any serious effort to end the war and restore the state becomes a gain for all Sudanese, rather than a victory for one side and a defeat for another. Sudanese dialogue, too, should not become an arena for redistributing influence, but rather an opportunity to establish a consensus that safeguards the country’s unity and sovereignty, addresses the causes of its crises, and prevents their recurrence.
From the perspective of #The_Face_of_Truth, loyalty to Al-Mirghani is not complete through recalling his biography or listing his positions, but through drawing upon the deeper lesson of his experience: that politics is not a race for gains, and that wisdom requires seeing all directions before making a decision. Sudan does not lack initiatives as much as it lacks the ability to embrace them. Nor does it need one party to prevail over another as much as it needs the nation to prevail over its crises. Perhaps this is the most sincere tribute to a man who made consensus a path and the unity of the country a horizon that must never be abandoned.
May Allah have mercy on His Eminence Sayyid Mohammed Osman Al-Mirghani, grant him a place in His spacious Paradise, and accept him among the righteous.
May you remain in good health and well-being.
Sunday, 15 November 2026
Shglawi55@gmail.com
