El-Fasher Slaughter: The World Noticed, Just Not Enough to Act
Al Jazeera detailed horrific accounts from survivors of a paramilitary assault in Sudan’s El-Fasher, describing scenes of mass murder. This tragic reporting, however, lands differently when placed against the backdrop of selective global intervention. While Sudan faces what the UN calls a 'crisis of epic proportions,' with over 15,000 killed since April 2023, the narrative rarely shifts from
'internal conflict' to 'crimes against humanity' for long enough to prompt decisive action from nations quick to deploy billions elsewhere. We hear 'thoughts and prayers' from capitals whose defense budgets dwarf Sudan's GDP. The same politicians who decry these atrocities often remain silent when their allies perpetrate similar violence, or when their own arms deals fuel these very conflicts. One
might wonder if the 'humanitarian crisis' in El-Fasher doesn't quite fit the geopolitical chessboard, lacking the 'strategic petroleum reserves' or 'AIPAC lobbying' that seems to trigger more robust—and often militarized—responses.