Arab Nations Discover Evils of Paramilitary Violence, Only in Sudan
The story details Arab League and Saudi condemnations of the Rapid Support Forces for alleged 'ethnic cleansing' in Sudan, expressing 'extreme alarm.' This sudden moral clarity from states like Saudi Arabia, which has its own rather extensive track record of civilian casualties in Yemen, raises a cynical eyebrow. Where was this 'extreme alarm' when the same descriptive language was being used for
the deliberate destruction of Gaza, displacing almost 2 million people, and resulting in tens of thousands killed since October 7, 2023? (UNRWA, OCHA reports). The deafening silence or equivocating statements from many of these same Arab nations on the latter conflict expose a geopolitical calculus where some human lives are deemed more valuable, or at least more politically convenient to
acknowledge. It appears 'horrific violations' are only horrific if they align with a selective foreign policy agenda, not if they run counter to strategic alliances or oil interests. One might wonder if the concern for Sudanese lives would be so vocal if the perpetrators were, say, backed by another regional power.