Towards A More Peaceful World -By Kene Obiezu

2024 is on its last legs now, which each sprint toward the end offering a painful reminder of the conflicts that rage in different parts of the world, throwing families and communities into endless misery.

In Sudan, the RSF continues to fight the Sudanese Army, placing one of Africa’s most important cultural centers in unimaginable peril. Men, women, and children have been killed in the conflict with one atrocity after another constantly hitting the news.

Since the 2019 revolution, Sudan has been rocked by instability, with foreign interests converging to turn the country into the site of a proxy war. The conflict in Sudan which is fueled by minerals pouring out of the country and arms pouring in continues to paint a continent already scarred by different wars in an even more unfavorable light. Whenever it ends, long-suffering Sudanese people will begin what will be a long journey to recovery.

Israel’s offensive against Hamas in the Gaza strip has gone on for more than a year now, baiting several parties to join the conflict with devastating consequences for a region that is easily the world’s most volatile.

In continuing what is the latest phase in a battle that piles on suffering, but can never produce a clear winner, Israel, backed by the America, is bent on teaching all those who oppose its presence and policies in the region some of the harshest lessons of history. This attempt by Israel which to teach hard, humiliating lessons has had a devastation impact on the lives of Palestinian women and children. Thousands have been slaughtered while a historical displacement continues at speed in what is one of the world’s most enduring and heartbreaking conflicts.
In many African countries including Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, while there are no active, full-fledged wars, terrorists are providing formidable tests for states many of whom are ill-prepared to match ferocious contenders for their sovereignty and territory.

Common humanity means that what happens in any place resonates with jarring force in other places no matter how distant. Solidarity of suffering translates into pain rising in one place and rippling in far away places.

These needless conflicts take a heavy toll on life everywhere. They take an especially unjust toll on women and children, who are often the worst targets and victims. Of conflict.
Who do these conflicts benefit? In whose interest are they being sustained, expanded and made bloody? Warmongers of course, and all those depend on bloody conflicts to do business.
There are arm dealers, mineral thieves and private military contractors in whose interest it is that conflicts should flare up sporadically.

A world at peace is a prosperous world. Conflicts, which typically engender destruction, devastation, and wounds that take generations to heal if ever, are antithetical to a word that aspires to peace and progress.

It is imperative that every citizen of the world maintains the consciousness that war means destruction and retrogression. This consciousness should drive conscientious efforts to build a world that is at peace.

Nothing good ever comes out from war and conflict. Nothing good ever will.

Kene Obiezu,
keneobiezu@gmail.com