Sudan’s War: The Erasure of History and Identity – Middle East Centre

by Rawan Mirghani

When conflict rages, the bonds that tie a nation to its shared history can be fractured, and its effects are often felt in ways we may not immediately realise. The war in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has not only triggered the world’s largest displacement crisis but also instigated a profound assault on Sudan’s cultural heritage. The looting and destruction of museums, historical sites, and ancient monuments constitute an erasure of Sudan’s historical identity, severing ties to a shared past and destabilising the foundations of national unity.  

Cultural Heritage as a Target of War

The destruction of Sudan’s cultural landmarks is not an incidental byproduct of conflict but a deliberate act of historical erasure. Museums, archaeological sites, and religious monuments – storehouses of collective memory – have been systematically targeted, looted and desecrated. These actions not only diminish Sudan’s ability to narrate its own history but also fracture its identity. Key examples of this cultural devastation include:

• The National Museum in Khartoum, looted and vandalised in June 2024, where 3,000 year old mummies were desecrated. Videos of militia members recklessly handling artifacts surfaced, demonstrating a disregard for historic preservation.
• The Meroe Pyramids, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are at risk as fighting spreads. These remnants of the ancient Kingdom of Kush represent Sudan’s African heritage and historical continuity. Their destruction would sever an essential link to the past.
• Nagaa and El Musawwarat, ancient sites in River Nile state, have come under threat, with RSF forces reportedly spotted near these locations in January 2024. These sites, home to monuments from the Merowe Christian Kingdom (300 BCE-350 CE), had remained untouched for centuries until now.
• Jebel Moya, an archaeological site crucial to understanding Sudan’s history in trade, pastoralism and cultural exchange, now lies at the centre of conflict, risking irreversible damage.

Reports from the Sudan Heritage Protection Initiative (SHPI) and Heritage for Peace document widespread damage across multiple regions. Museums such as the Sudan Ethnographic Museum, the Sudan Natural History Museum and the Khalifa House Museum have suffered extensive looting. Religious sites, archives, cultural centres, and historical architecture including mosques and churches face the threat of permanent erasure.

The Erasure of Cultural Identity and National Memory

Cultural landmarks are foundational to national identity, linking generations to a shared past and reinforcing a collective sense of identity. The destruction of Sudan’s historical sites represent an assault on collective memory, erasing the shared symbols that have long provided continuity amidst political turbulence. Without these landmarks, Sudanese society risks fragmentation, as the war magnifies existing ethnic and political divisions.  

The absence of tangible historical markers fosters a crisis of identity. Future generations may inherit a Sudan devoid of its historical anchors, unable to engage with the physical remnants of their past. While history is a record of the past, it also serves as a tool for sharing collective consciousness. Without its historical sites, different factions may construct competing versions of the past, reinforcing divisions rather than fostering reconciliation. 

For the Sudanese Diaspora, the destruction of heritage is particularly devastating. Many displaced Sudanese rely on cultural memory to maintain their sense of identity. A homecoming to Sudan in the aftermath of war may not just be a return to a devastated land but to an irretrievable past. The obliteration of historical sites eliminates points of connection between the diaspora and their homeland, deepening the psychological scars of displacement.

The Role of Cultural Heritage in Post-war Reconciliation

While war has turned Sudan’s cultural heritage into a battleground, these same landmarks could serve as instruments of reconciliation. Memory is central to national identity and the restoration of historical sites can facilitate post-conflict healing. In post-war societies, historical sites have the potential to act as bridges between divided communities, fostering national unity through restoration projects and collective remembrance. 

• Museums can serve as spaces of dialogue, curating exhibits that acknowledge the traumas of war while celebrating Sudan’s historical diversity. 
• Heritage restoration initiatives can become national efforts that overcome political divides, fostering unity through a shared purpose. 
• Educational programmes centered on historical sites can instill a renewed sense of national identity, ensuring that war does not permanently erase Sudan’s cultural memory. 

The war in Sudan has challenged assumptions about national identity and historical continuity. However, if cultural heritage is actively preserved and reintegrated into Sudan’s post-war reconstruction, it could serve as the foundation for a more cohesive future.

Reclaiming Sudan’s Historical Identity

The war in Sudan has proven that culture is not a passive casualty but an active battleground. One that can be weaponised for division or harnessed for peace. The aftermath of conflict extends beyond physical destruction, influencing how societies remember and define themselves. Sudan’s future depends not only on political reconciliation but also on the restoration and protection of its historical identity.  

Unless urgent efforts are made to safeguard Sudan’s cultural heritage, an entire chapter of African history risks being erased. The remnants of Sudan’s past must not be allowed to vanish, for they hold the key to its unity, strength and hope for the future. The question remains: Will Sudan’s history be rewritten by war or will it be reclaimed through preservation and collective memory?

This piece is part of a series that addresses the conflict as well as other subjects pertaining to Sudan, such as employment, forced displacement, gender, humanitarian needs, migration and political participation. 

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