Sudan is in revolt. Why isn't anyone listening?
A version of this post originally appeared in the听blog. The views expressed are the author's own.听
顿别蝉辫颈迟别听听against austerity measures in Sudan in recent weeks -- leaving about听听protesters dead and over听听--听the international community, including the听, has been far too silent.
Despite a few听, the relations of most countries with Sudan have continued without interference.听听of injured and dead protesters have spread widely through social media, visually portraying the story of an incipient Sudanese revolution and the听听in response. The hopes of opponents to the regime for international solidarity and support have so far been disappointed.
In fact many seem to believe the protests are over, despite the fact that听
Last week the Interior Minister of Sudan, Ibrahim Mohamed Hamed, was in New York to discuss humanitarian aid access for听听under five years old. The mere fact that the Sudanese government holds these types of services hostage to politics is appalling.
While in New York, he also participated participated in an event in New York hosted by the听听to discuss 鈥渉ow to strengthen the resilience of communities in Sudan and deliver a more efficient and sustainable humanitarian response.鈥�
While this a worthy idea in principle, it sends the wrong message to a country where large numbers of Sudanese are mourning the deaths of 210 people at the hands of Sudanese police led by Mr. Hamed and millions more in Darfur, Abyei, South Kordofan and Blue Nile.
The visit also provided him with a platform to continue to spread falsehoods that have been disseminated by the government on the protests, the dire conditions in听, and听
Hamid gave a preview of the government鈥檚 line in a听听in Khartoum when he was asked about the excessive force used against the protesters. According to him, 鈥淭he police have it under control鈥�. They have been around for 150 years and they work with organization and strategy that we trust.鈥� According to him, the protesters are 鈥渟aboteurs鈥� who were trying to burn gas stations and government property, forcing the police to take action to control the situation.
Meanwhile,听demonstrating protesters have circulated the internet acting as a testament for how the police really have handled the situation.
When asked about the graphic images of obviously Sudanese protesters slain by the police, Hamid cynically answered that they听
It is the responsibility of the international community and governments with influence to make clear that the actions of the Sudanese government are not acceptable.
One way not to do that is to invite senior officials with bloody hands to events at which they can showcase their positive spin, while brushing an inconvenient reality under the rug.听
