A world torn apart by multiple conflicts and cruel wars
As the Spanish Commission for Justice and Peace, since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent conflict, together with the massacre of the Palestinian people by Israel's military forces and government, we have been reporting and taking a stand, demanding respect for the inalienable rights of the people and the the right of every person to live in peace and safety. We have been doing so, as well as defending dignity and the necessary peace to coexist, because in these situations we are risking our moral credibility as a society and as a Church, in keeping with our mission.
There is no agreement on the number of active wars currently, with estimates ranging from 50 to 80, but there is agreement that this historical moment is the one where this bloody reality is most widespread and intense. There are wars that cannot be forgotten by those who suffer them, nevertheless, they are ignored and forgotten in our Western societies and even in our communities and commissions, perhaps because we are only concerned about what affects us directly, due to interests or geographical proximity. We worry more about those that affect us directly, even though there are other very bloody and painful wars. We believe that we have a responsibility to remember and report these other wars and violations of rights, without ceasing to denounce and pay attention to those in Ukraine and Palestine.
On Sunday, 2 November, Pope Leo XIV stated that "With great sorrow, I am following the tragic news coming from Sudan, particularly from the city of El Fasher in the afflicted northern Darfur region. Indiscriminate violence against women and children, attacks on unarmed civilians, and serious obstacles to humanitarian action are causing unacceptable suffering to a population already exhausted by long months of conflict."
Since 2023, Sudan has been involved in a brutal civil war that has been developed far from the spotlight and has caused the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet: 12 million people displaced, 30 million in need of humanitarian aid and tens of thousands dead.
The conflict between Burhan and Hameidti, with no end in sight after the breakdown of yet another ceasefire, threatens to completely tear apart the development of a country rich in resources (fertile land, gold and minerals) but poor in democracy, just as the possibilities for displaying its potential were multiplying. The war has caused an exodus that the UN estimates could exceed one million people by October, leaving Sudan and its future plans in disarray. It also turns the region into a time bomb in which countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya and even Russia could become involved.
We share this reflection, which comes directly from within Sudan, and we sign it as the Spanish Commission for Justice and Peace in order to preserve the author's anonymity, as requested. This is a call to obtain information that will enable us not only to understand the causes and consequences, but also to name those who are directly benefiting from this extermination and how they are profiting, either indirectly or directly. All of this also makes our lifestyle possible on the other side of the Western world, closed off to understanding the origin of an emigration that will not hesitate to continue seeking hope in the face of a future marked by death and suffering. Even if the risk of ending up in the desert or at sea is a better alternative than not exercising the right to migrate.
