Neighbor News
From One War Zone to Another: The Global Cost of Our Silence
The only path forward lies in dialogue, empathy, and mutual respect.
After long years of a deepening humanitarian crisis, the world once again finds itself hanging in the balance. The flames of conflict have reignited elsewhere — this time in Sudan, where the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have unleashed a new wave of atrocities against civilians. What began as a power struggle has turned into one of the most devastating human tragedies in recent memory.
These global conflicts are an open wound on humanity's conscience. Countless innocent lives have been claimed, leaving behind destruction and grief. The continued targeting of civilians — wherever it occurs — only deepens hatred and distances us from peace. What is urgently needed now is empathy, restraint, and a genuine commitment to dialogue.
In late October, the RSF seized El Fasher, a pivotal city in western Darfur. Eyewitness accounts and emerging evidence point to mass killings of civilians — echoes of the genocidal violence that scarred Darfur two decades ago. This marks a major turning point in Sudan’s civil war, which has already taken up to 150,000 lives since April 2023. With control of El Fasher, the RSF now holds sway over nearly all of Darfur, tightening its grip on a region that has long been synonymous with suffering and neglect.
The RSF’s origins trace back to the Janjaweed militias, which served under former President Omar al-Bashir in their brutal campaign to crush uprisings in Darfur. That campaign claimed around 300,000 lives, mostly from an ethnic group, and was widely recognized as genocide by the International Criminal Court and the United States.
As the fires of conflict spread from the Middle East to Africa, it is hard to ignore a grim reality — the world seems to be sleepwalking toward a greater confrontation, a possible third world war. Humanity stands at a crossroads: will we continue down the path of destruction, or will we learn from history and choose peace?
For years, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Supreme Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, has warned world leaders of the perils of injustice and the dangers of unchecked aggression. He also warned that the world is advancing towards its own destruction. His message has been consistent and clear — peace cannot be built on oppression, nor can justice thrive amid vengeance. The only path forward lies in dialogue, empathy, and mutual respect.
In times like these, peace cannot be left to governments alone. Every individual has a role to play — through awareness, compassion, and the courage to reject hate. We must learn to see beyond borders, faiths, and politics, and remember that humanity is our shared identity.
Let us strive not for power, but for peace. Let us replace anger with understanding and retaliation with reconciliation. Because if we lose our humanity in pursuit of victory, then no side truly wins.
