By Kayode Emola
The world woke up to a deadly clash in Sudan last weekend and one would have expected that by now, international mediators would have intervened. Alas, the world watches on as innocent Sudanese continue to lose their lives on a daily basis with no end in sight to the ongoing crisis.
The enthusiasm given to the Ukraine conflict has definitely not been given to the people of Sudan which will imply that African lives don’t matter. Or there I say, African leaders have not done much to raise the profile of their people in the international community to warrant any intervention.
Why is the world not standing up for Sudan, why are there no African and international mediators trying to de-escalate the situation in a timely manner before it results in a full-scale war? The last thing the African continent needs right now is another civil war. Not only will that set the region back, but thousands of lives may also be lost needlessly and millions of civilians displaced.
As it stands, African people and its leaders seem to care less about what is happening in Sudan which shouldn’t be so. We need to stand in solidarity with the Sudanese people who happen to be the victim of this needless conflict.
The eerily silence among the African leaders shows that there is no one left to stand for the African people when a situation like this occurs. The Yoruba people need to get out of Nigeria so that we can build a strong country that will stand in the gap for Africa.
Nigeria is not able to offer that leadership that is desperately lacking in Africa and if something is not urgently done, Africa will continue to accept the victimhood status of the world. South Africa has also not been able to help either as their internal political crisis has not made it possible for them to take on the leadership role for the continent.
I want to implore the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Force to sheath their sword and enter into dialogue as this is the only sure path to true reconciliation. Fighting will not solve any problem and if history has taught us anything, peace is always better than conflict.
For the international media who are only focusing on the conflict as it affects foreigners trapped in Sudan, I will say more needs to be done to bring the attention of the international community to the plight of the Sudanese people. I cannot imagine the pain and agony many of them are going through right now without food and the basic needs of life in the last week.
Many of them like several others in Africa, rely on daily wages to survive. The ongoing conflict, which would hinder trade and commerce, means that many poor families will starve to death if nothing is done urgently. Humanitarian agencies need to be on their toes to provide relief for desperate people so that we can minimise danger to life.
For those who are unaware of the ongoing crisis, I will plead that we say a word of prayer for the Sudanese people. We should keep them close to our hearts in this period of anxiety and for the souls of those already lost in the line of battle.
We all need to be aware that the world is in a precarious situation right now. The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, and heightened tension between China and Taiwan, Israel and Palestine do not bode well for world peace. It only takes a few more conflicts in one or two continents to enter a third-world war situation.
If the second world war has taught us anything, it is that there are no victors in any war, as everyone comes out as a loser, it is only the number of losses that differs. Britain which controlled nearly half the trade in the 20th century if not more is itself soliciting trade deals in the 21st century.
The Yoruba people need to understand that God has placed us in Africa for a reason. It is not to stand on the fence as spectators but to put up a strong leadership for the continent. The time is now when we need to realise that Africa needs us to rise up as a people. We should not be afraid to dare and God is ever willing to give us the strength to succeed in the challenges ahead of us.
