Gaza Commanded Our Attention. Why Hasn't Sudan?
This NPR Code Switch episode, published on April 15, 2026, examines the stark disparity in global media attention and public engagement between the war in Gaza and the ongoing civil war in Sudan. As Sudan enters its fourth year of conflict, characterized by severe violence and famine, it has struggled to maintain prominence in U.S. headlines compared to the intense coverage of Gaza. The article features insights from Sudanese journalist Isma'il Kushkush, political scientists Scott Strauss and Mai Hassan, and Sudan expert Alexander de Waal. They analyze the complex factors influencing why certain crises capture international imagination while others are overlooked. The discussion explores the geopolitical, racial, and strategic elements that drive media narratives and humanitarian response. Ultimately, the piece questions the tangible impact of such attention on the ground for affected populations, highlighting the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan that remains largely underreported despite its severity and duration.
Wire timeline
Gaza Commanded Our Attention. Why Hasn't Sudan?
This NPR Code Switch episode, published on April 15, 2026, examines the stark disparity in global media attention and public engagement between the war in Gaza and the ongoing civil war in Sudan. As Sudan enters its fourth year of conflict, characterized by severe violence and famine, it has struggled to maintain prominence in U.S. headlines compared to the intense coverage of Gaza. The article features insights from Sudanese journalist Isma'il Kushkush, political scientists Scott Strauss and Mai Hassan, and Sudan expert Alexander de Waal. They analyze the complex factors influencing why certain crises capture international imagination while others are overlooked. The discussion explores the geopolitical, racial, and strategic elements that drive media narratives and humanitarian response. Ultimately, the piece questions the tangible impact of such attention on the ground for affected populations, highlighting the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan that remains largely underreported despite its severity and duration.
npr