The ruling elite at the center of Sudan emulates an "Arab" ideology in order to further its interests and legitimate its claims. Their ideology is defined by Arabic as the vehicle of divine expression, and the possession and use of Arabic is a source of their identity. People in the conflicted peripheries have reacted in various ways to the center's position on language and it is critical to the relation to South Sudan. This article attempts to bring together some facts of language management by people in and from the conflict zones of the Sudan, and also South Sudan.