War of Visions by Francis M. Deng

Review by Yabsera Bekele

The short: Francis Deng presents the identity crisis that exists among Sudanese people and presents alternative approaches of building nationalism and a shared common identity.

The long: Deng presents the Civil War that plagued Sudan since its independence in 1956 as a result of differing identities present in the Northern and Southern parts of the country. Identifying racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and religious differences, this book presents the various identities that makeup Sudan. In the end, he offers three recommendations which he believes will lead to peaceful coexistence.

To read or not to read: Definitely worth a read! Highly acclaimed by many, this book will open your eyes to the complexity of the Sudanese identity and provide historical insight into the issues that led to the Sudanese Civil War.