Another Genocide
“Guernica” by Pablo Picasso (1937), Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain, Source https://www.wikiart.org, Copyright © Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso painted “Guernica” both to memorialize civilians massacred by German Nazis and Italian Fascists during the strafing and bombing which destroyed a small town by that name during the Spanish Civil War, and to protest the atrocities of war [1][2]. Sadly, Guernica was far from the last such destruction.
Indeed, another genocide is in progress in Sudan…the second there in our lifetimes [3][4A].
Background
A military coup in 1989 destroyed democracy in Sudan, with dictator Omar al-Bashir suspending the constitution and dissolving parliament [4B]. A 30 year reign under strict Sharia Law, countless human rights abuses, and a 22 year civil war followed.
Infrastructure (including the country’s critical oil pipeline) was decimated by scorched earth tactics on all sides during this time. As a result, the country’s economy cratered. All the while, safe haven was given to terrorist organizations like Al-Queda and ISIS.
After the bloodless removal of al-Bashir by the military in 2019, inflation increased by 300%. Another coup followed in 2021. However, the authoritarian structures al-Bashir had put in place remained. A second civil war then broke out in 2023 after a power struggle within the military government.
Humanitarian Crisis and War Crimes
Millions are helpless victims of the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) now wrestle over territory. The RSF, it should be noted, is linked to human rights violations such as the systematic murder of men and boys (including infants) on an ethnic basis, and the use of rape as a weapon of war [4C][5]. These are nothing less than war crimes.
Some 24.6 million face starvation; 19 million lack safe water; 12 million have been displaced [6][7A]. The horrors being perpetrated parallel the pattern in Darfur 20 years ago [7B]. As many as 150,000 have already been killed in this second brutal civil war [4D]. Some believe that total may be as high as 400,000 [8].
International Response
Yet the international community this time around has been largely silent [7C]. Perhaps the Russian war in Ukraine and the Israeli war against Hamas have occupied the world’s attention.
However, the world is not helpless to take action. Russia, Iran, Turkey, and Egypt back the SAF, while the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is believed to provide weapons to the RSF in clear violation of an arms embargo. Pressure could be applied to stop these shipments, and the arms embargo better enforced. Sanctions could be expanded.
Federal authorization for retired US Military to work for the UAE could be withdrawn or suspended while this is implemented [9].
Meanwhile, the NBA — which has valued Sudanese players like Manute Bol, Deng Gai, and Bol Bol — would do better to contribute to humanitarian aid for Sudan rather than hold Global Games in the UAE [10].
Protected corridors for humanitarian aid could be established, while efforts continue to negotiate a ceasefire.
—
[1] Wikipedia, “Guernica (Picasso)”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guernica_(Picasso).
[2] Wikipedia, “Guernica”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Guernica.
[3] CNN, “Genocide is declared once more in Sudan. How did the country get here?” by Nimi Princewill, 1/10/25, https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/10/africa/sudan-genocide-explained.
[4A through 4D] History Rise, “Omar al-Bashir’s Rule: Islamism, Oil, and International Isolation Explained”, 11/8/24, https://historyrise.com/omar-al-bashirs-rule-islamism-oil-and-international-isolation/.
[5] Wikipedia, “Rapid Support Forces”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_Support_Forces.
[6] United Nations, Human Rights/Office of the High Commissioner, “Sudan crisis deepens amid rising civilian casualties, growing ethnic violence, and grim humanitarian situation”, 9/19/25, https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/09/sudan-crisis-deepens-amid-rising-civilian-casualties-growing-ethnic-violence.
[7A, 7B, and 7C] The Conversation, “Can the World Prevent a Genocide in Sudan?” by Philipp Kastner, 11/6/25, https://theconversation.com/can-the-world-prevent-a-genocide-in-sudan-269088.
[8] Yahoo! News, Vox, “The bloodshed in Sudan is visible from space” by Sara Herschander, 11/11/25, https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/bloodshed-sudan-visible-space-133000696.html.
[9] NGO Report, “UAE’s Reliance on Retired US Troops and Its Impact on Foreign Policy”, 10/12/23, https://ngoreport.org/uaes-reliance-on-retired-u-s-troops-and-its-impact-on-foreign-policy/.
[10] Wikipedia, “NBA Global Games”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Global_Games.
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A Lawyer's Prayers 
In Matthew’s gospel we read: “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places”.
Like millions of others, I have read those words for decades and tried to imagine what that would look like. Sadly, I no longer have to imagine the horrific suffering that millions are forced to deal with in their epic struggle to survive: it is in plain view for all who wish to see it.
That this newest genocide garners so little attention from us in the west speaks to the hardness of our hearts and our callous disregard for our fellow man, thus fulfilling another prophecy from Matthew 7: “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold”.
May God have mercy on these desperate people.
That is my prayer as well
Luke 21:5-19, like the foreboding parallel in Matthew these Common Lectionary preaching options for today push preachers all around to either remind us of these realities, or to skirt these political atrocities, and the “famines and pestilences and earthquakes …” of global climate change by excusing these things back to the first century prediction of the Temple destruction. Sometimes history serves us to prophecy but other times we use it to excuse ourselves from responsibility.
I am not sure what exactly you mean by “Common Lectionary preaching”. True religion has never sought to justify famines and political atrocities such as these. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” (James 1: 27 NIV).
We cannot excuse ourselves of responsibility toward others. That is, at best, rationalization. Christ said the two greatest Commandments are that we love God and love one another (Matt. 22: 27-29). We are all one family.
As for the Olivet Discourse which you reference, Christ was by no means advising his followers to ignore wars, earthquakes, famines, and pestilence or abandon those suffering from such calamities. He was prophesying that these things would increase as the End Times approached.
The time any of us have here on earth is limited. That makes it imperative we use whatever time we have left to pour out our love to one another. That includes the victims in Sudan.
I was a bit obtuse speaking of the “common lectionary” which is simply a tool for main line churches to have a biblical preaching topic that connects to resources for faith formation and preaching, and is the reason why hearing several sermons on the same Sunday it is no coincidence that they are using the same scriptures on the same day. Today the lectionary dealt with this end of times prophecy and your post was such a welcome and real world commentery on what some of us are hearing already.
Once again, thanks for your research and info. Our continent is bleeding. At least we know how and what to pray for regarding Sudan, Anna. Warm greetings from SA.
The whole world is bleeding, Erroll. Some wounds are simply more visible than others. Only the blood of Christ can save us. Warm greetings from the US.
True! And thanks.
Intriguing!
The world is so full of heartache. If I were not waiting for certain souls to acknowledge their need of Jesus, I’d be continually praying “Maranatha,” (Come, Lord Jesus). As it is, I pray for them every day. I don’t know how much longer He will wait, given the selfishness, greed, hatred, callousness, and power-grabbing that have our world in such a mess. The day is coming when he will bring righteousness and justice to all the oppressed (Psalm 103:6).
Amen.
Terrible things are happening all over the world.
So much needless suffering. And the world turns a blind eye to Sudan as well.