‘Not safe for us’: Sudanese in north Africa warn fleeing relatives of danger
GuardianNov 25, 2022
The Facts
The UN Human Rights Office said Thursday that a mass grave containing the bodies of at least 87 people — including women and children — was found just outside El-Geneina, the capital of Sudan's West Darfur state, accusing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its allied militias of the atrocity.
The UN reported that from June 20-21, local people were forced to dispose of dead bodies in a shallow grave in an open area outside the city. An unknown number of the dead were ethnic Masalits — a non-Arab people who the RSF has been accused of targeting in El-Geneina.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Since violence erupted in Sudan, US Sec. of State Antony Blinken has worked hard to stamp out violence by proposing a peaceful solution and providing safe passage for humanitarian aid. The US-backed mediation coalition is doing its part to enable a diplomatic resolution and commit itself to supporting refugees until a ceasefire or permanent agreement is reached.
Establishment-critical narrative
Though the US and Saudi Arabia brokered a ceasefire, it's undeniable that Washington is significantly responsible for the fighting in Sudan. The US failed to rein in the country's top generals when mounting tensions between forces led by al-Burhan and Dagalo indicated that a prolonged conflict was likely to erupt. Facilitating a truce is the least US leaders can do for the region, given this negligence.
Cynical narrative
Each warring side in Sudan is still battling for supremacy over the country, which indicates they're in no way serious about these ceasefires or peace talks. If the two continue to see each other as an existential threat, it will be impossible to find the middle ground necessary to stop the fighting and prevent the nation from being destroyed.
