At this year’s United Nations General Assembly in New York, African leaders came out strong against Israel’s assault on Gaza and global inequality. But when it came to Africa’s own blood-soaked wars in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), their voices went almost silent.
Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senegalese President Bassirou Faye, and Namibia’s President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah used their time on the podium to condemn Gaza’s suffering and call for climate action. Shettima told world leaders that Palestinians are “not collateral damage” but human beings who deserve dignity like everyone else.
Yet, while Sudan’s conflict has claimed more than 40,000 lives and Congo’s eastern war has displaced millions, both crises were barely mentioned. Analysts say this silence reflects a worrying pattern—African leaders are more outspoken about global injustices than about wars devastating their own backyard.
In Sudan, fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has torn the country apart since 2023. Thousands have been killed, famine looms in Darfur, and civilians continue to suffer drone strikes and aid blockades. Congo too remains under siege, with M23 rebels pushing offensives in the east, leaving thousands dead and millions trapped in conflict zones.
Observers believe the UNGA was a missed chance to spotlight Africa’s worsening humanitarian crises. Instead, outside powers like the U.S., UAE, and Saudi Arabia are driving fragile peace talks, while the African Union struggles to make an impact.
For critics, the silence of African leaders at such a crucial stage says it all: without stronger voices from within the continent, wars in Sudan and Congo may drag on, leaving the fate of millions in the hands of outsiders
