BRITISH-SUDANESE billionaire Mo Ibrahim, one of Africa’s most influential voices and a leading advocate for good governance, has delivered a scathing critique of the international community’s response to the devastating war in Sudan. In a candid interview with BBC Africa’s Akisa Wandera, Ibrahim accused global powers of turning a blind eye to Sudan’s suffering, attributing this neglect to the skin colour of its people.
“The world is ignoring the war in Sudan because of the skin colour of its people,” Ibrahim said, directly challenging the conscience of the international community.
Since the outbreak of war in April 2023, Sudan has descended into chaos. The conflict, pitting government forces against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has claimed more than 150,000 lives, with estimates suggesting the true toll could be even higher due to unreported deaths from starvation, disease, and violence. The United Nations has described the displacement as the worst in the world today: over four million people have fled Sudan, and more than 10.5 million are internally displaced.
The scale of suffering is staggering. Reports indicate that hundreds of thousands of children have died from malnutrition, and millions face dire shortages of food, water, and medical care.
Ibrahim’s frustration is not only with the lack of attention but also with the failures of international diplomacy. He singled out the United Nations Security Council’s veto system as “stupid,” condemning how a single country can block urgent action to stop the bloodshed. His comments come in the wake of Russia’s veto of a Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan—a move that left the Council deadlocked and the Sudanese people without hope for relief.
“One country is the enemy of peace. This Russian veto is a disgrace, and it shows to the world yet again Russia’s true colours,” said British Foreign Secretary David Lammy after the vote.
Ibrahim also criticised the role of external actors in fueling the conflict. He pointed to the involvement of countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel, each pursuing their own interests and deepening the crisis. Despite repeated rounds of peace talks and promises of aid, diplomatic efforts have been described as “lacklustre,” and the world’s response “woefully inadequate” by leading humanitarian organisations.
Mo Ibrahim’s warning is clear: the world’s indifference to Sudan is not just a diplomatic failure—it is a moral one. He urges the international community to recognise the humanity of Sudan’s people and to act with the same urgency and compassion shown in other global crises.
“If it continues, both forces would have blood on their hands,” Ibrahim told the BBC, insisting that the conflict must stop before it spreads further and destabilises the entire region.
As Sudan’s tragedy deepens, Ibrahim’s powerful words demand reflection: will the world continue to look away, or will it finally confront the uncomfortable truth about whose lives are valued – and whose are ignored?
