It is disheartening to acknowledge that, often, some extraneous events or human rights issues only seem to capture our attention and drive us to take sides when they pertain to “nou ban” , to our religion, our prejudices, our particular ideology or to our keenness to be seen as progressive …(a much abused term in our context where our so-called progressive are still shackled by their “noubanisme” and identity politics )
Take the case of Sudan.
Many of our African leaders and our local leaders who have been supporting the South African genocide’s case against Israel do not seem to show the same concern about the severe humanitarian crisis and genocide in Sudan.
Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo who stands accused of genocide is being welcomed by many African leaders. Dagalo, of the Rapid Support Forces, along with allied Arab militias, is conducting a campaign of ethnic cleansing against black Africans in Darfur, a region in the west of Sudan, so bloody that many fear a repeat of the genocide there two decades ago.
The Economist of Jan 17th reported that “In Nairobi he was greeted on a red carpet with a hug from William Ruto, Kenya’s president….. In a post on x, previously Twitter, which was later deleted, the office of South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, referred to his guest as “His Excellency President Mohamed Dagalo of Sudan”. Is this not the same African country that took a genocide case to ICJ …?
But “it’s not just that [African leaders] met with Dagalo—it’s how they met him,” says Kholood Khair of Confluence Advisory, a Sudanese think-tank.
Moreover, “Mr Dagalo’s key advantage on the battlefield is the backing of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is said to have been providing him with weapons, armoured vehicles and drones. The UAE’s support may help explain the success of his recent diplomatic forays. Many African countries are keen to strengthen ties with the UAE, which is flush with petrodollars and ambitious to expand its influence across the region. Mr Dagalo, who owns UAE-linked gold mines in Darfur and has been criss-crossing the continent on a Dubai-registered jet, is a member of an emerging bloc led by the UAE. “
And so the genocide goes on.
Is this not a case of glaring hypocrisy which highlights the selective attention and subdued responses from all of us ?
“The Human Rights Watch’s World Report 2023 presents a sombre depiction of widespread abuses and attacks against civilians in Darfur…The plight of the Sudanese people, particularly the violation of religious freedom and the erosion of justice, calls for a more concerted and principled international effort to address the unfolding human rights tragedy. …The enormity of the crisis demands a collective and conscientious response to alleviate the profound suffering experienced by the Sudanese population.”
Did you hear anything from our political parties on the genocide in Sudan -even a mere hint of a show of solidarity for our Darfur brothers and sisters!
Why not ? because support for Black Africa is not vote-catching; it is not likely to find traction in our local politics given the partisan nature of our blinkered voters ! Well yes, Mauritius is considered as an African country, a part of Africa, a member of AU, SADC, COMESA, …. but few of us identify ourselves with Africa or show any solidarity towards Africa.
On this day, when we are celebrating the abolition of slavery, our readers should be aware that our approach and discussions on human rights and some extraneous events are often characterised by selectivity, lack of objectivity and small-mindedness… The imperative lies in fostering a more just and compassionate world where humanity takes precedence over political and other considerations.
