May 25, 2025
Last Sunday in London, May 18, 2025, Manel Msalmi, a prominent human rights defender and president of the European Alliance for the Defense of Minorities (EADM), stood on Parliament Square. With the British Parliament as a backdrop, she called on the world to finally wake up to the catastrophe in Sudan. Her words, sharp and unrelenting, struck a chord with hundreds of listeners, from diplomats to activists expressing solidarity.
Manel Msalmi: An Unyielding Voice
Manel Msalmi, known for her decades-long fight for oppressed communities, began with a historical reference. The statistics are heartbreaking: 150,000 deaths, 11 million refugees, and 25 million people battling hunger.
Sexual Violence as a War Strategy
In her address, Manel Msalmi painted a grim picture of sexual violence. “Women and children are not merely attacked—their suffering is a weapon,” she emphasized. The number of rapes in areas controlled by the Islamic extremist Al Burhan militias has skyrocketed. These groups, in power since the “Islamic winter,” use this terror to crush resistance.
Chemical Weapons: The Silence Broken
Manel Msalmi condemned the recent use of chemical agents by the Sudanese army, confirmed by U.S. officials. “This is no longer a conflict but an extermination,” she stated. Although attacks now primarily target remote regions, she fears escalation in cities like Khartoum. Sanctions against General al-Burhan for bombing schools and blocking aid were dismissed as “a drop on a searing hot plate.”
“The World Is Silent, Sudan Is Dying”
As EADM president, Msalmi directly addressed international leaders: “Where are the UN peace missions? Where is the pressure to allow aid?” Her criticism was razor-sharp: “Women, children, and Christian minorities are being deliberately eradicated. This will become the worst famine since the 1980s if we do nothing.”
A Call for Courage
Despite it all, Manel Msalmi ended on a hopeful note. “The Sudanese people deserve action. With the chemical attacks, Al Burhan has crossed an irreversible line,” she said. Her words, delivered powerfully near the statue of Winston Churchill, echoed his calls for duty and moral leadership.
Andy Vermaut