The world is currently facing three major wars, each with devastating death tolls. The Russia-Ukraine war has claimed over 200,000 lives in just two and a half years, mostly soldiers. In the Hamas attack and subsequent Israeli assault on Gaza, approximately 43,000 deaths have been recorded, predominantly civilians. However, a Lancet article suggests that the actual toll in Gaza could be as high as 186,000 due to the destruction of public infrastructure.
The Sudanese civil war began last year and estimates of the death toll vary greatly. Medics in the region believe that between 20,000 and a horrifying 150,000 people have been killed. Over two decades in South Sudan and Darfur combined, an estimated 2 million deaths occurred. Since April 2023 alone, more than 7 million Sudanese have been displaced from their homes and are now facing starvation in the desert.
While there is significant international attention on Ukraine and Gaza with countries providing weapons and aid to different sides of these conflicts; Sudan seems to be largely ignored by comparison. The question arises: do we care enough about Sudan to take action beyond mere words?
A recent documentary on BBC Four titled “Corridors of Power: Should America Police the World?” sheds light on eight instances of US involvement in global conflicts since the end of the Cold War. Three cases were based in Africa – Rwanda, Libya, and Darfur – where US intervention was called for but fell short.
The documentary features interviews with key figures present at White House meetings during these conflicts such as Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice. It highlights how often US interventions lacked a clear strategy or long-term plan for what would happen after military involvement.
In some cases like Kuwait and Bosnia-Herzegovina interventions were successful; however Libya and Somalia proved unsuccessful endeavors for US interventionism. Non-intervention during Rwanda’s genocide or Darfur’s crisis appeared callous at best.
The documentary emphasizes that demanding action without specifying what should be done or by what right it should be done is not enough. It also raises questions about whether certain conflicts directly affect US security or commercial interests before deciding whether to intervene.
In May last year when Saudi Arabia joined forces with the US to broker a ceasefire between warring factions in Sudan it only lasted days before collapsing again highlighting how difficult it can be to find lasting solutions amidst civil or border wars.
Amidst all this despairing news from conflict zones like Sudan there is still hope for relief efforts aimed at alleviating human suffering even if broader political solutions seem elusive at present.