When Humanity Looks Away: The Global Failure in Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Palestine

Sudan: A Nation Fractured by Conflict and Neglect

Sudan's recent history is marred by a devastating civil war that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), plunging the nation into a profound humanitarian catastrophe. This conflict is the latest iteration of decades of instability, rooted in political grievances, ethnic tensions, and a struggle for control over resources. The human rights violations have been widespread and egregious. Both the SAF and RSF have been accused of indiscriminate attacks on civilians, sexual violence, arbitrary detention, and looting. Reports from the UN Human Rights Office and various NGOs detail mass killings, particularly in Darfur, where ethnic cleansing tactics reminiscent of the early 2000s have re-emerged. The use of heavy weaponry in densely populated areas has led to immense civilian casualties and displacement. As of mid-2025, over 10 million people have been displaced internally or have fled to neighboring countries, making it the world's largest displacement crisis.

International law, specifically international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL), has been systematically violated. The principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution, fundamental to IHL, have been disregarded by both warring parties. Attacks on healthcare facilities, schools, and civilian infrastructure constitute war crimes. The deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid, including the targeting of aid convoys and personnel, further exacerbates the crisis and is a clear violation of IHL. The international community's response has been primarily characterized by condemnations and limited sanctions, which have proven insufficient to halt the violence or hold perpetrators accountable. The UN Security Council has passed resolutions calling for a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access. Still, enforcement mechanisms have been weak, reflecting a lack of political will among key member states.

The vast European and UAE mineral interests in Sudan, particularly gold, play a significant role in perpetuating the conflict. Gold mining, often controlled by the RSF and its allies, provides a crucial revenue stream that funds their military operations. Reports indicate that gold extracted from Sudan is frequently smuggled through neighboring countries and then enters international markets, with European and UAE entities being major buyers. This economic incentive directly fuels the conflict, as control over mining areas and trade routes becomes a strategic objective for the warring factions. The lack of transparency and regulation in the global gold supply chain allows these illicit financial flows to continue, effectively complicating international markets in the conflict's perpetuation.

The humanitarian situation is dire. Millions face acute food insecurity, with parts of the country on the brink of famine. Healthcare systems have collapsed, and outbreaks of preventable diseases are rampant. A lasting peace in Sudan requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses the root causes of the conflict while ensuring the country's territorial integrity and that its mineral wealth benefits its people. A solution must involve robust international pressure for a genuine ceasefire, accountability for human rights violations, and a comprehensive political process that includes all Sudanese stakeholders. This process should aim for a civilian-led transitional government and the establishment of democratic institutions. To ensure mineral wealth benefits the nation, transparent governance of the extractive sector is crucial, with international support for monitoring and regulation to prevent illicit trade and ensure revenues are used for development rather than conflict.

African countries and heads of state have a critical role to play. The African Union (AU) and regional bodies like IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) have attempted mediation efforts. Still, internal divisions and a lack of leverage over the warring parties have often hampered these. To effectively come to Sudan's rescue, African leaders must present a united front, exert stronger diplomatic pressure, and potentially deploy a robust African-led protection force if a political agreement is reached. Expelling foreign interests that do not contribute to peace requires African nations to develop stronger regulatory frameworks for their extractive industries, promote transparency, and advocate for international mechanisms that prevent the illicit flow of resources that fuel conflict. This also entails challenging the complicity of international actors in these illegal trades.

There have been allegations of Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda's role in supporting rebel groups or factions within Sudan. While direct, overt military support is challenging to prove, these countries have complex relationships with various regional actors. For instance, some reports suggest that certain regional actors might have provided logistical or financial support to groups aligned with the SAF or RSF, or facilitated the movement of goods that indirectly benefit the warring parties. These actions, if proven, would undermine regional stability and complicate efforts towards a peaceful resolution.

Democratic Republic of Congo: A Perpetual Cycle of Violence and Resource Plunder

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has endured decades of conflict, primarily in its eastern provinces, fueled by a complex interplay of ethnic tensions, weak governance, and the immense wealth of its natural resources. The human rights situation remains catastrophic, with widespread atrocities committed by numerous armed groups and elements within the Congolese security forces. These include mass killings, sexual violence used as a weapon of war, recruitment of child soldiers, arbitrary detention, and forced displacement. The UN Joint Human Rights Office in the DRC consistently documents thousands of violations annually. Sexual violence, in particular, has reached epidemic proportions, with women and girls bearing the brunt of the conflict's brutality.

International law has been systematically violated. The principles of non-aggression, the prohibition of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes are routinely flouted. The failure to protect civilians is a glaring indictment of the Congolese state's capacity and the international community's effectiveness. Despite the presence of MONUSCO, one of the largest UN peacekeeping missions, its mandate and resources have often been insufficient to protect civilians across such a vast and volatile territory. The international community's response has been characterized by repeated condemnations, limited sanctions on specific individuals, and humanitarian aid, but a lack of sustained, comprehensive action to address the root causes of the conflict and hold all perpetrators accountable.

The vast European and UAE mineral interests in the DRC are a primary driver of the conflict. The DRC is incredibly rich in minerals, including cobalt, coltan, copper, gold, and diamonds, essential for modern technologies, from smartphones to electric vehicles. European and UAE companies are directly or indirectly beneficiaries of these resources. The demand for these minerals fuels illicit mining and trade, often controlled by armed groups who use the proceeds to finance their operations. Supply chains for these "conflict minerals" are notoriously opaque, making it difficult to trace their origin and ensure they are not funding atrocities. This external demand creates a powerful incentive for various actors to maintain instability and control over mining areas, directly undermining peace efforts. The international community's failure to effectively regulate these supply chains and hold corporations accountable for sourcing conflict minerals is a significant contributing factor to the ongoing violence.

The humanitarian situation in the DRC is one of the worst globally, with millions displaced and facing severe food insecurity, lack of access to healthcare, and education. A lasting peace in the DRC requires a multi-pronged approach that addresses internal and external conflict drivers. This includes strengthening state institutions, reforming the security sector, promoting good governance, and ensuring equitable distribution of mineral wealth. Crucially, it also requires robust international action to regulate the mineral trade, enforce due diligence requirements on companies, and prevent the flow of funds to armed groups. The territorial integrity of the DRC must be unequivocally respected, and any external support for rebel groups must cease.

African countries and heads of state have a complex and often contradictory role in the DRC. While regional bodies like the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have attempted mediation and even deployed regional forces, some neighboring countries have been accused of supporting rebel groups or having vested interests in the DRC's mineral wealth. Specifically, Rwanda and Uganda have been repeatedly accused by the UN and various human rights organizations of supporting rebel groups, most notably the M23 in eastern DRC. These allegations include providing military, logistical, and financial support to these groups, which directly contributes to the instability and human rights abuses. While both countries deny these claims, evidence presented in UN expert reports is compelling. To genuinely come to the rescue of the DRC, African leaders must:

Cease all forms of support for armed groups within the DRC.

Strengthen regional security cooperation based on principles of non-interference and mutual respect for sovereignty.

Develop and enforce regional mechanisms for transparent mineral trade to prevent illicit exploitation.

Exert collective diplomatic pressure on external actors who exploit the DRC's resources or fuel conflict. This requires a fundamental shift from self-interest to collective security and prosperity.

Palestine: A Protracted Conflict and Eroding Rights

The situation in Palestine is characterized by a protracted conflict rooted in occupation, displacement, and the denial of self-determination. The human rights violations are pervasive and systematic, affecting millions of Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. These include restrictions on freedom of movement, arbitrary detention, demolition of homes, forced displacement, excessive use of force by Israeli security forces, and the ongoing blockade of Gaza. The UN Human Rights Office, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have extensively documented these violations, often categorizing them as amounting to apartheid. The recent escalation of hostilities, particularly in Gaza, has led to unprecedented levels of civilian casualties, destruction of infrastructure, and a severe humanitarian crisis.

International law, particularly international humanitarian and human rights, has been consistently violated. The occupation of Palestinian territories is governed by IHL, which prohibits the acquisition of territory by force and imposes obligations on the occupying power to protect the civilian population. The establishment and expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are considered illegal under international law. The blockade of Gaza, which has severely restricted the movement of people and goods, has been described as collective punishment, a violation of IHL. The use of disproportionate force, attacks on civilian infrastructure, and the targeting of journalists and medical personnel during military operations are also clear violations. The international community's response has been primarily characterized by rhetorical condemnations and calls for a two-state solution, but a consistent failure to enforce international law or hold Israel accountable for violations. The geopolitical interests of powerful states, particularly the United States, have often shielded Israel from international pressure and sanctions, undermining the effectiveness of international institutions.

Unlike Sudan and the DRC, the conflict in Palestine is not primarily driven by European or United Arab Emirates mineral interests. Instead, it is fundamentally a geopolitical conflict over land, resources (especially water), and national identity, with significant religious and historical dimensions. The international community's failure to ensure territorial integrity for Palestine stems from a lack of political will, the imbalance of power, and the inability to enforce UN resolutions.

Ensuring the territorial integrity of Palestine, based on the 1967 borders with mutually agreed land swaps, is a cornerstone of a two-state solution, which remains the internationally recognized framework for peace. This requires:

• Ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.

• Dismantling illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

• Ensuring the right of return for Palestinian refugees or providing just compensation, in accordance with UN Resolution 194.

• Establishing a sovereign, independent, and viable Palestinian state alongside Israel.

• Guaranteeing freedom of movement and access for Palestinians.

• Holding all parties accountable for violations of international law.

The role of African countries in supporting Palestine has historically been strong, rooted in shared experiences of colonialism and self-determination struggles. Many African nations recognize the State of Palestine and have consistently voted in favor of resolutions supporting Palestinian rights at the UN. African heads of state can continue to play a crucial role by:

• Maintaining a united diplomatic front in international forums, advocating for Palestinian self-determination and an end to the occupation.

• Pressuring international bodies to enforce international law and hold all parties accountable.

• Providing humanitarian and developmental assistance to the Palestinian people.

• Rejecting any attempts to normalize relations with Israel that undermine Palestinian rights or the two-state solution based on international law. While African nations do not have the same direct leverage as major global powers, their collective voice and moral authority can significantly shift international discourse and pressure.

• A Solution to Lasting Peace Without Taking Away Territorial Integrity and Minerals

A lasting peace in Sudan, the DRC, and Palestine, without compromising their territorial integrity or unjustly exploiting their resources, requires a fundamental shift in international engagement.

For Sudan and the DRC, the solution involves:

• Robust and unified international diplomatic pressure for genuine ceasefires and inclusive political processes that involve all legitimate stakeholders, not just warring factions.

• Accountability for human rights violations and war crimes, through international justice mechanisms or credible national processes, to break cycles of impunity.

• Comprehensive security sector reform that builds professional, accountable national armies and police forces, integrated from all legitimate groups, and disarms and demobilizes rebel groups.

• Transparent and equitable governance of natural resources, with international support for monitoring, regulation, and revenue management to ensure mineral wealth benefits the entire population, not just elites or armed groups. This includes enforcing due diligence laws on international corporations to prevent the trade in conflict minerals.

• Significant and sustained humanitarian and development aid that addresses immediate needs and builds long-term resilience, focusing on education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.

• African-led solutions: African regional organizations (AU, IGAD, EAC, SADC) must be empowered and supported to lead mediation, peacekeeping, and post-conflict reconstruction. This requires greater financial and logistical support from the international community and a commitment from African states to prioritize collective security over individual interests and cease any actions that fuel conflict in neighboring states. Expelling foreign interests that do not help achieve peace means African nations must collectively advocate for stronger international regulations on resource extraction, challenge illicit financial flows, and build their capacity to manage and benefit from their resources.

For Palestine, ensuring territorial integrity and a just peace requires:

• Unwavering international commitment to the two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, and a clear timeline for its implementation.

• Ending the Israeli occupation and the dismantling of all illegal settlements.

• Lifting the blockade on Gaza and ensuring freedom of movement for Palestinians.

• Accountability for all violations of international law, by all parties, without political bias.

• International protection for Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories. 

• A just resolution for Palestinian refugees in accordance with international law.

• Sustained international pressure on Israel to comply with UN resolutions and international law, including the use of targeted sanctions if necessary, and a re-evaluation of military aid that enables violations.

In all three cases, the world's failure is a failure of political will and a prioritization of short-term geopolitical and economic interests over human rights and international law. A lasting peace that respects territorial integrity and ensures equitable resource distribution demands a principled, unified, and sustained global effort, led by strong regional actors, to hold all perpetrators accountable and support genuine self-determination and development.