A tribute to Israa Baboud

Sudan used to resemble the country of peace and happiness. As my mother says: ”Once upon a time in Sudan”.  Now when I think about Sudan, I have a different perspective. I see sadness, injustice, favouritism and Death. Yes I see death in very corner. Today Israa Baboud passed away. I met her once or twice and I wouldn’t recognise her if we met by any chance. But she is ( I refuse to use was-the past tense- because I believe the dead never leave) a sister of one of my friends. She is a daughter of parents who are trying to hold down their tears to be strong for their other children. She is a friend to lots of people. She is 20 years old. Cause of death? A reckless driver whom I believe is not qualified to drive. Sudan has a very high car accidents records. Either lethal or not, many of our youth are involved and its and ascending. I am wondering why no one is worried about their life. Is it because we are living this systematic life? Or is it because of the all kind of frustrations and pressures we are living through? Many questions are to be answered. One is in the top of head. Why there isn’t any police officer stationed in the hospitals or at least the major ones with the stupid document required? Why a victim of a car accident isn’t allowed to get treated till they get the accident’s report? It’s not like they are going anywhere. They have just been hurt! And you can take the person who caused the crash to the station and do the paper work. It isn’t that hard to do. But we don’t care about the humans any more. In many cases lot of people bled to death waiting for the report to arrive. And ironically, sometimes you can find an officer but without their paper and his excuse is: we ran out of paper. Guess what, smart pants. You can always have extra paper or check if you’re running out of the stupid document. It is utterly unaccepted to lose our battle with destiny because of stupid Engaz-made regulations. Where’s our dignity as human? Police officers are usually a school dropout, are playing god. Determining who and how we live. I have my better of respect to the role of police and as many children I dreamt of saving the world wearing a police uniform. Reality shocked me irreversibly after living in Sudan for almost a decade now. Police is to me is the hidden enemy which everybody knows about afraid of pointing to. It’s like our own version of” The God Father” only the authorities are the mafia now. Sudan which grave we’re digging? Ours?  Yours? Everybody’s?
It is such a shame to end like this….. From a country everybody wants to live in to a piece of land. Sudan is turning to an empty land….Without identity, future or hope.Only a piece of a land. In tribute to Israa Baboud’s soul. Gone so soon. May Allah grants you his mercy