As the world watches in horror at the atrocities in Palestine, we must acknowledge that too little attention has been paid to the genocides unfolding in other parts of the world: in Armenia, Congo and Sudan.
At MRN, we will always speak up and use our platform to raise awareness of any situation where people are being forcibly displaced. To be silent is to uphold violence. We refuse to be complicit.
Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to suffer the legacies of colonialism and imperial interventions.
The Congolese people have been colonised, enslaved, murdered and systematically oppressed by Belgium to extract its resources. At least 10 million people died under Belgium’s rule. Even after Congo gained independence, Western governments and corporations have continued to intervene and create instability, so they can continue to extract raw minerals and wealth, such as uranium. Belgium and the USA were complicit in the murder of Congo’s anti-colonial independence leader, Patrice Lumumba, in 1961, after which Mobutu Sese Seko was installed as dictator.
Today, Congolese civilians are being massacred by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, as part of a long history of Western and corporate intervention in the DRC. Western corporations profit from the mining of coltan, cobalt, gold, diamond and other minerals in the DRC, whilst the West (the UK, US and France) has been providing military funding to both Rwandan and Ugandan militias in Congo. The UK has also remained silent on Rwanda’s role in the violence, which is unsurprising given the Rwanda deportation deal.
Since 1996, at least 6 million Congolese have died, and millions have been displaced and are suffering, so the West can continue to benefit from Congo’s resources, and access them for cheap rates.
At MRN, we call for safe routes for all those affected, and for an end to Western corporate and government interference.
Armenia
As suffering and gross injustices in the Global South continue to be overlooked, we condemn the genocide against the Armenian people.
Armenians have been ethnically cleansed and displaced as part of a genocide by Azerbaijan, with the backing of Turkey. Over 100,000 people have been forced to leave the area after facing months of blockades.
No-one should be forced to leave their homes or be displaced, but when they are, we should be offering safe routes for those that want them. We call for an end to the occupation and genocide of the Armenian people in Artsakh.
Sudan
Since April this year, war has raged in Sudan between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), in the aftermath of a derailed revolution by the Sudanese people. Popular protests toppled the dictatorship of Omar Al-Bashir in 2019, which was followed by a military coup by the leaders of the SAF and RSF in 2021, who were working together at the time. But now, thousands have been killed and millions forced to flee as a result of a power struggle between the RSF and SAF, while the Sudanese people face untold atrocities, violence, starvation and disease at the hands of both factions. Over 9,000 have died, whilst at least 5 million have been displaced. The RSF continues to be funded by the UAE, whilst Israel has funded both factions. This power struggle has “disproportionately affected those already suffering under a continuing genocide in Darfur”.
The UK Government and the West have failed the people of Sudan. In contrast to the safe routes it provided for Ukrainians, the UK has clearly demonstrated its indifference to the suffering of people from the Global South.
Safe routes should be provided regardless of nationality or ethnicity. We have a duty to assist those who are suffering and to stand in solidarity with all oppressed people.