Except for a few who had no hope, this few was the group that agreed to receive instructions and funds from Egypt. But we did not succeed because the Khatmiya did not wish to split into the Umma Party for sectarian reasons. Rather, the conflict between them and us intensified in some circumstances, and newspapers from both sides launched violent campaigns against each other. The mutual accusations and insults reached a point that made the Administrative Secretary warn the newspapers to stop these campaigns, otherwise he would be forced to ban their publication by administrative order. I affirm that if what I intended had happened and the Ansar and the Khatmiya had united in one party, its leadership would not have been a point of contention between me and Sayyid Ali Al-Mirghani, especially since I saw at that time that Sudanese nationalism was in danger. In order to avert that danger, I would have accepted any position that served the country's interest. It is not true that the animosity between us and the Khatmiya was entirely due to historical reasons stemming from what happened during the Mahdist period.

Sudanese Forget Grudges The reality is that groups in general do not hold onto their grudges for long. It is one of God's blessings upon His servants that He made human memory weak. Sudanese, in particular, are a people who forget their grudges and are quick to bury their enmities. The greatest proof of this is that the animosity between us and the Khatmiya began to fade and diminish after the end of the Mahdiya. However, various factors later worked to widen the rift between me and Sayyid Ali, and between the Ansar and the Khatmiya. I am obliged to mention them after I met and reconciled completely with Sayyid Ali, for the pleasure of God and His Messenger, and for the good of Sudan. We rose above these differences to work together, hand in hand, for the good of our country.

Meeting with Sayyid Ali Al-Mirghani I met with Sayyid Ali at the opportune time. We met just before the foreign rule left the country. If these differences had persisted until today, it would have been a catastrophe threatening the security and stability of the country. Our country has no need for such differences. We need to close ranks and combine efforts so that people's efforts are not wasted on squabbles and disputes between parties and sects, which fragment the people's strength and consume their potential fruitlessly. We need to harness all our human energies to raise the standard of living so that we can enjoy the freedom we have obtained.

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