The Hypocrisy of Humanitarianism: Why the West Turns a Blind Eye to Sudan’s Suffering

 

America and the West are too busy playing geopolitical chess in Ukraine and Gaza, while they let millions die in Sudan, showing that African lives are expendable in their global power games.

The world has a funny way of turning a blind eye when it's most inconvenient. While the flames of Gaza and Ukraine dominate global headlines, Sudan burns quietly in the background, a deadly inferno that could engulf the region and beyond if left unchecked. It’s an open secret that Sudan’s war has the potential to be deadlier than both Gaza and Ukraine combined, yet it has received only a fraction of the attention. The irony here is almost too painful to bear: the world’s indifference to Sudan’s suffering could spell catastrophe not just for Africa but for global stability.

Sudan, Africa's third-largest country, is not just another battlefield; it’s a geopolitical time bomb. The conflict, largely overshadowed by more “newsworthy” wars, is spiraling out of control, with some estimating that 2.5 million civilians could perish by the end of the year. As of now, roughly 150,000 people have already been slaughtered, and more than 10 million have been forced to flee their homes. To put this in perspective, that's about one-fifth of Sudan’s population. The capital city of Khartoum, once a bustling metropolis, now lies in ruins. Bodies are piling up in makeshift cemeteries visible from space, a grim testament to the world's neglect.

Yet, what’s perhaps even more shocking is the silence from the international community. Where is the outrage? Where are the protests and the social media campaigns? The truth is, Sudan’s war has been met with a collective shrug. America and the West, busy with their own geopolitical chess games, seem uninterested in restoring order in Sudan. The United Nations, once a beacon of hope for conflict resolution, is paralyzed by bureaucracy and indecision. Meanwhile, Middle Eastern states and Russia continue to fuel the fire, arming the belligerents with impunity.

The main belligerents in Sudan are the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), neither of which have any ideological goals or monolithic ethnic identities. They are commanded by warlords more interested in power and spoils than in the well-being of the Sudanese people. The RSF, in particular, has been credibly accused of mass rape and genocide. Yet, the international community remains largely disengaged.

Russia, ever the opportunist, has played both sides, deploying Wagner mercenaries to Sudan and demanding a Red Sea naval base in return for arming the SAF. This move could have catastrophic consequences for global trade, particularly the operation of the Suez Canal, which carries about one-seventh of the world’s trade between Europe and Asia. Were Sudan to fall into permanent anarchy or become a rogue state hostile to the West, it could further imperil the Suez Canal, already under threat from attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen. The chaos in Sudan could also lead to a new refugee crisis in Europe, reminiscent of the waves that followed the wars in Syria and Libya.

Sudan’s war is not just an African problem; it’s the world’s problem. The country’s implosion threatens to destabilize its neighbors, which include seven fragile states that account for 21% of Africa’s landmass and are home to 280 million people. Countries like Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Libya could face destabilizing flows of refugees, guns, and mercenaries, turning the entire region into a powder keg.

Despite the huge stakes, the West has responded with neglect and fatalism, showing just how normalized disorder has become. Twenty years ago, the world took notice of the genocidal fighting in Darfur, but today, American officials seem more preoccupied with China, Gaza, and Ukraine. There were no Sudanese flags flying at Ivy League campuses this year, and Western public opinion remains quiescent.

But ignoring Sudan is a grave mistake, both morally and strategically. The world’s indifference could lead to millions of deaths and a ripple effect of chaos that extends far beyond Africa’s borders. Sudan could become a haven for terrorists or a foothold for regimes like Russia and Iran that are keen to sow disorder. The stakes are too high to continue turning a blind eye.

What can be done? First, more aid needs to get into Sudan quickly to reduce the death toll from starvation and disease. Trucks laden with food should be pouring across every possible border, and public and private funding needs to flow to Sudanese NGOs running ad hoc clinics and kitchens. Cash can be sent directly to the hungry via mobile money, allowing them to buy food where functioning markets exist.

Second, the international community must put pressure on the cynical outside actors fueling the conflict. If Sudan’s warlords had fewer weapons and less money to buy them, there would be less killing and less war-induced starvation. America, Europe, and other responsible powers should impose sanctions on any business or state official exploiting or enabling Sudan’s war, including those from so-called allies like the UAE.

Sudan’s war is a catastrophe in the making, but it’s not too late to act. The world has ignored Sudan for too long, but the price of continued neglect could be catastrophic. It’s time to pay attention and take action before it’s too late. As the saying goes, if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. And right now, the world’s indifference is the problem.

In the end, it seems the West is too busy playing its geopolitical games to care about the lives being lost in Sudan. After all, there’s no oil or strategic interest at stake, right? But mark my words: the chaos in Sudan will come back to haunt us all. And when it does, the world will have only itself to blame for standing by and doing nothing.