Twenty-seven years ago, the United States bombed the Al-Shifa factory in Sudan, one of the largest pharmaceutical industries on the African continent. Its destruction caused a severe shortage of medicines, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people. Located in the territory that was once home to the famous kingdom of Kush, Sudan still struggles today to overcome the obstacles left behind by its colonial past. The country became independent in 1956, but was unable to overcome the serious internal divisions that led to successive civil wars.

Political instability, sanctions and foreign intervention have always made it impossible to continue development projects. In the 1990s, Sudan was among the poorest nations in the world, with about 60% of its population living below the poverty line. In 1990, the country had one of the highest infant mortality rates on the planet and a life expectancy of 51 years. The magnitude of these challenges explains the excitement generated by the announcement that the country would be home to a large pharmaceutical industry.

Opened in June 1997, the factory became known as the “pride of Africa.” The institution was born as one of the largest pharmaceutical companies on the continent, with modern facilities and state-of-the-art equipment. Al-Shifa Pharmaceuticals strengthened the Sudanese health system and, more than that, represented the materialisation of the dream of scientific sovereignty shared among the nations of the global south. The factory employed 360 people.

Even though it was a private enterprise, it received strong support from the Sudanese state. The construction was financed by donations and loans from several African countries and international organisations. 

Al-Shifa enabled Sudan to make enormous strides towards self-sufficiency in the manufacture of medicines. Domestic production rose from 3% to 50% with the industry. The factory was responsible for producing 90% of the medicines used to treat the seven leading causes of death in the country. These medicines cost 1/5 of the price of similar products manufactured in Europe and the United States. The Sudanese government distributed 15% of all production free of charge to low-income families, reaching one of the most disadvantaged populations in the world.

In this way, the country became an exporter, supplying several African and even Asian nations. Much of the medicine consumed in Iraq during the criminal US embargo came from Sudan.

The historic moment when the factory was inaugurated was also marked by the deterioration of US diplomatic relations with Sudan. The White House wanted to prevent Omar al-Bashir’s government from establishing closer ties with Iraq, the Palestinian resistance and other Islamic movements. Bill Clinton’s strategy was to accuse Sudan of providing logistical support and refuge to terrorist organisations such as Al-Qaeda. In December 1997, an embargo was imposed.

The United States military launched an aerial bombardment of the Al-Shifa factory in Sudan on the 27th of March 1991. This pharmaceutical manufacturing facility was one of the largest in Africa at the time of the attack. The destruction wrought by the conflict gave rise to a severe shortage of essential medicines, with the result that thousands of lives were lost. Situated in the territory that was formerly home to the renowned kingdom of Kush, Sudan continues to grapple with the challenges emanating from its colonial past. The country gained independence in 1956, yet was incapable of surmounting the profound internal divisions that precipitated successive civil wars.

The perpetual challenges posed by political instability, sanctions, and foreign intervention have invariably rendered the continuity of development projects unfeasible. During the 1990s, Sudan ranked among the world’s poorest nations, with approximately 60% of the population living below the poverty line. In 1990, the country exhibited one of the highest infant mortality rates globally, with a life expectancy of 51 years. The magnitude of these challenges is evidenced by the excitement generated by the announcement that the country would be home to a large pharmaceutical industry.

The factory, which was inaugurated in June 1997, was soon distinguished by its reputation as the “pride of Africa.” The institution was established as one of the largest pharmaceutical companies on the continent, with modern facilities and state-of-the-art equipment. Al-Shifa Pharmaceuticals has been instrumental in fortifying the Sudanese health system, thereby serving as a tangible manifestation of the aspirations for scientific autonomy that are shared among the nations of the global south. The factory employed 360 people.

Despite its status as a private enterprise, it received substantial support from the Sudanese state. The construction of the bridge was financed by donations and loans from several African countries and international organisations.

Al-Shifa played a pivotal role in Sudan’s advancements towards self-sufficiency in the domain of pharmaceutical production. Domestic production exhibited a marked increase, rising from 3% to 50% in alignment with the industry. The factory was responsible for producing 90% of the medicines used to treat the seven leading causes of death in the country. The cost of these medicines is one-fifth of the price of similar products manufactured in Europe and the United States. The Sudanese government distributed 15% of all production free of charge to low-income families, thereby reaching one of the most economically disadvantaged populations worldwide.

Consequently, the country became an exporter, supplying several African and even Asian nations. A significant proportion of the pharmaceuticals consumed in Iraq during the period of the US-imposed embargo were sourced from Sudan.

The inauguration of the factory coincided with a period of deterioration in US-Sudan diplomatic relations. The administration of the White House was intent on preventing Omar al-Bashir’s government from forging closer ties with Iraq, the Palestinian resistance, and other Islamic movements. The strategy pursued by Bill Clinton entailed the accusation that Sudan had provided logistical support and refuge to terrorist organisations, including Al-Qaeda. In December 1997, an embargo was imposed.

On 20 August 1998, the pharmaceutical factory complex was completely destroyed by 13 missiles launched by US ships in the Red Sea. The bombing was ordered by the White House in retaliation for terrorist attacks on the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania two weeks earlier. Despite the absence of any organisational claim of responsibility, the White House administration has expediently attributed the blame to Al Qaeda.

The factory was completely destroyed, causing significant outrage among the Sudanese government and population. In the absence of any concrete evidence, any hypothesis pertaining to a potential connection between Sudan and the embassies that had been attacked must be considered as speculative. The only commonality that could be identified between the two groups was that both inhabited the same continent, which was located in the Global South.

Clinton made a direct and unequivocal assertion that the factory had provided chemical weapons to Bin Laden and Al Qaeda. He further stated that the White House had obtained “concrete evidence” of the manufacture of lethal XV gas at the pharmaceutical factory. However, the evidence presented was limited to a sample of contaminated soil that had been collected in the vicinity of the factory. When researchers requested independent tests, the US government refused to comply with this demand. Factory officials collected soil samples, which were analysed at Boston University. The results of these tests revealed no abnormalities. In the debris, only artefacts consistent with a conventional pharmaceutical factory were found.

The Sudanese government called for the UN Security Council to undertake an independent assessment, a proposal that was subsequently vetoed by the US government.

The timing of the bombing was strategically aligned with the peak of the sex scandal involving Bill Clinton and his intern, Monica Lewinsky. A grand jury testimony was scheduled to take place on the exact same date as the bombing of the factory. Surveys indicated that 70% to 80% of Americans expressed approval of the bombings against the alleged “terrorists”. The violation of several conventions of international law by the US was not called into question. This is customary.

The situation was further exacerbated by a critical shortage of essential medicines, compounded by the already dire circumstances of famine, civil war, and economic embargo. The absence of a domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, which was responsible for supplying half of all medicines produced in the country, resulted in the intensification and dissemination of outbreaks and pandemics.

In the aftermath of the criminal US bombing, a meningitis epidemic struck Sudan, which, in the absence of antibiotics, had limited capacity to protect itself. The disaster resulted in a significant loss of life, akin to the loss of lives due to the 1999 floods.

It is estimated that tens of thousands of people died as a result of dysentery, malaria and other treatable diseases. The nation made appeals to the United Kingdom and other Western nations for assistance in procuring chloroquine for the treatment of malaria, but these requests were declined.

Moreover, the efforts of humanitarian agencies to combat hunger were hindered by the escalation of the conflict. It is estimated that more than 70,000 Sudanese people perished as a result of starvation.

Despite the passage of several decades, the nation continues to grapple with a persistent shortage of essential medications, a situation that has been compounded by the utilisation of a criminal bombing as a diversionary tactic in the context of an American sex scandal.

It is evident that Sudan never received an apology from the US. Conversely, the United States government has expanded its sanctions against the country since the onset of the conflict in Darfur, and has provided financial support to a separatist movement in the southern region.

The independence of South Sudan was proclaimed by the separatist movement with the support of the United States. This situation had repercussions for the Khartoum government, which consequently experienced a depletion of 75% of the country’s oil reserves.

At present, the country is experiencing widespread famine, with the United Nations (UN) confirming that Sudan is currently the only place in the world where famine has been officially declared in several locations.

An American journalist — a recurring theme in such publications — provoked controversy by publishing on the cover of The Atlantic magazine that the current war in Sudan is a war about nothing. However, the prevailing perspective within Sudanese society posits a divergent viewpoint, attributing the war to a multitude of factors. Indeed, the conflict is not merely one in nature, but rather several discrete and often concurrent struggles, each with its own unique context. These include, but are not limited to, issues of gold, identity, land for agricultural purposes, and social philosophies.

At present, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) exercise control over the north, north-east and the Nile River states, as well as Khartoum, Port Sudan, the Red Coast and parts of North and South Kordofan. In these areas, it operates government ministries and major ports and airports.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias have been observed to exercise control over approximately 45% of Sudan, representing a decline from 75% in the early months of the war. The aforementioned regions encompass the majority of the Darfur area, with the exception of the northern capital, El Fasher.

In certain regions, the authority of the state is not yet fully implemented, and local leaders offer protection in exchange for wealth or resources. These leaders are not affiliated with either the SAF or the RSF.

According to analysts, the war is now being fought over economic interests.

The Arab emirates have been active participants in the war, seeking to protect their economic interests, primarily in the form of gold mining and arable land in the border area between Ethiopia and eastern Sudan. The RSF has been active in its role as a proxy force for the Arab Emirates, however, in recent battles, mercenaries from Niger and Colombia have superseded them. Official data demonstrate that in 2024, 100% of declared gold exports were destined for Egypt. Prior to the war, the majority of Sudan’s gold was exported to the United Arab Emirates. The war had a significant impact on mining operations in areas under the control of the RSF, particularly in regions where mining was predominantly conducted by hand.

The Egyptian government was a beneficiary of this situation, and subsequently abolished all gold import taxes one month after the commencement of the current war in Sudan. This action resulted in Egypt becoming the primary destination for Sudanese gold, both in official and illegal contexts.

However, it should be noted that the preeminence of gold in Sudanese politics is not a recent phenomenon. It is estimated that fifteen years ago, 90% of trade was derived from oil, which is located in the area that is now occupied by South Sudan. The loss, which was promoted by the US and its own interests, led to a situation where the population was compelled to engage in artisanal gold mining, which resulted in a significant escalation in violence. The leader of the RSF, Mohamed Hamdan Degalo, has become a billionaire warlord.

Subsequent texts will address identity, arable land, and social philosophies.

It is imperative to contemplate the current state of affairs in Sudan. It is imperative to closely monitor the actions and policies of the United States, as they consistently demonstrate a propensity to prioritise their own interests, often at the expense of other nations.

Think about Sudan today. Keep an eye on the US war machine.

Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcerer of death’s construction

In the fields, the bodies burning
As the war machine keeps turning
Death and hatred to mankind
Poisoning their brainwashed minds

Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that role to the poor, yeah

Time will tell on their power minds
Making war just for fun
Treating people just like pawns in chess
Wait ‘til their judgement day comes, yeah

Now in darkness, world stops turning
Ashes where their bodies burning
No more war pigs have the power
Hand of God has struck the hour

Day of judgement, God is calling
On their knees, the war pigs crawling
Begging mercy for their sins
Satan laughing, spreads his wings

War pigs, Black Sabbath