Why isn't the war in Sudan in the news as much as wars elsewhere in the world? And if so many civilians are being killed, or even genocide is taking place, why doesn't anyone intervene?
I often hear these questions from journalism students, colleagues, and Volkskrant readers. The answers to these questions are numerous, so they often lead to long conversations that include how the media works behind the scenes.
But what always comes up in these conversations is the multifaceted nature of the war in Sudan. It's a complex conflict, not just a battle between two armies and their feuding generals. A major power struggle is being waged in Sudan, in which a whole range of African and Arab countries play a role.
The main sponsor of the conflict (besides countries like Egypt, Iran, the Houthis, Kenya, and Chad) is clearly the United Arab Emirates. For years, they have been providing financial and military support to the Rapid Support Forces – the army that recently carried out an ethnic massacre in El Fasher.
In today's Volkskrant, my colleague Jenne Jan Holtland clearly explained exactly what the Emiratis want in Sudan.
The article's final paragraphs also answer the question of why no one is intervening: because the incredibly wealthy country is a major trading partner for the Netherlands, France, the UK, and the United States, among others. No one dares to jeopardize those close ties.
And so the war in Sudan continues unabated.
Read the front-page story here: https://www.volkskrant.nl/buitenland/waarom-de-steenrijke-emiraten-grote-belangen-hebben-bij-de-burgeroorlog-in-soedan~bded3592/