Yaqeen Blog

While the world's eyes are glued to the headlines in Europe and the Middle East, a "crisis of staggering proportions" is unfolding in Sudan. In 2025, Sudan has officially become home to the largest displacement crisis on Earth. In a harrowing new report from Unreported World, veteran journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy gains rare, dangerous access to the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan—a region where a million people are currently standing on the edge of a famine that the world is choosing to ignore.

1. The Numbers of a Nightmare

The statistics coming out of Sudan in 2025 are difficult to comprehend. The brutal war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has ripped the country apart.

• 11.3 Million Displaced: More people have been forced from their homes in Sudan than in any other conflict globally.

• 30 Million in Need: Over half the population now requires urgent humanitarian assistance just to stay alive.

• The Famine Threshold: Famine has been formally declared in parts of the country, specifically targeting the most vulnerable in the Nuba Mountains and North Darfur.

2. The Nurse of the Nuba: Nafisa Abdulrahim

Guru-Murthy’s investigation centers on Nafisa Abdulrahim, a nurse who has become a lone beacon of hope for over 5,000 displaced people. Operating with almost zero supplies, Nafisa’s daily reality is a catalogue of human suffering.

Through her eyes, we see the true face of the Sudan Famine 2025: hungry children lining up for hours, skeletal old men dying in isolation, and a community forced into "survival scavenging." When aid is blocked and the world turns its back, people are left with no choice but to eat leaves, insects, and even rats just to stop their stomachs from cramping.

3. War Crimes and the Weaponization of Rape

The report doesn't just document hunger; it documents atrocities. The Nuba Mountains have become a refuge for those fleeing "systemic ethnic cleansing" by the RSF.

"I saw seven Nuba men killed in cold blood by soldiers."

This testimony is just one of many. Survivors speak of a deliberate campaign of sexual violence and executions used as weapons of war. The UN has received reports of mass rapes and the targeted killing of non-Arab ethnic groups, adding to the mounting evidence of war crimes being committed with total impunity.

4. Why is the World Silent?

The "Global Silence" on Sudan is perhaps the most devastating part of the crisis. While the Rapid Support Forces tighten their grip on western and central regions, aid convoys are being blocked, warehouses looted, and local aid workers murdered.

As Guru-Murthy highlights, this isn't just a natural disaster; it is a man-made extermination. The intentional destruction of the agricultural season and the siege of cities like Kadugli mean that for the people of the Nuba Mountains, time is running out.

The Bottom Line

Sudan in 2025 is a warning to the world. It is what happens when a nation is left to burn in a vacuum of international neglect. The people of the Nuba Mountains don't need our "thoughts and prayers"—they need unfettered humanitarian access and an immediate end to the cycle of impunity.

In 2003, the UK was on the edge of a geopolitical meltdown. The government, led by Tony Blair, was pushing hard to join the U.S. in the invasion of Iraq. The justification? Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs). But behind the polished headlines was a messy, high-stakes battle over the truth that ended in the tragic death of a world-class scientist, Dr. David Kelly.

If you think modern politics is toxic, the Kelly Affair was the original "glitch in the system" that changed how the public views the government forever. This is the investigation into the dossier that was "sexed up," the whistleblower who was "hunted," and the aftermath that still haunts British politics today.

1. The Vibe: The "Sexed Up" Dossier 📂

In September 2002, the British government published a report known as the "September Dossier." It claimed that Saddam Hussein had WMDs that could be launched within 45 minutes. This specific detail was the "hook" used to convince Parliament and the public that war was inevitable and urgent.

• The Leak: In May 2003, BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan reported on the Today programme that a senior official had told him the dossier was "sexed up" (exaggerated) at the last minute to make it more "sexy" for the media.

• The Source: That source was Dr. David Kelly, a biological weapons expert and former UN inspector who had visited Iraq 37 times. He wasn't a rebel; he was a man of science who felt the intelligence didn't match the government’s loud rhetoric.

2. The Struggle: The Man in the Middle 🎤

Once the BBC story broke, Downing Street went into full "crisis mode." They didn't just deny the story; they declared war on the BBC. The government demanded the name of the source.

• The Unmasking: Dr. Kelly eventually confessed to his bosses at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) that he had spoken to Gilligan off-the-record. Instead of protecting him, the government leaked his name to the press.

• The "Fall-Guy": Kelly was hauled before the Foreign Affairs Committee for a televised hearing. He was grilled aggressively by MPs who called him a "fall-guy" and "chaff." Two days later, on July 17, 2003, Dr. Kelly walked to a woods near his home and took his own life.

📊 The Kelly Affair: The 45-Minute Reality Check

3. The Break: The Hutton Inquiry & the "Whitewash" 🌍

After Kelly’s death, the government launched the Hutton Inquiry to investigate the circumstances. When the report was released in 2004, it was a massive shock.

• The Verdict: Lord Hutton cleared the government of almost all wrongdoing and laid the blame squarely on the BBC’s "defective" editorial processes.

• The Fallout: The BBC’s Chairman and Director-General resigned. However, the public didn't buy it. A poll showed that only 10% of people trusted the Hutton Report, with many calling it a "whitewash."

The real damage was done to Tony Blair's "whiter than white" reputation. The trust between the British public and the government was shattered, a rift that arguably paved the way for the skepticism and "post-truth" politics we see today.

Real Talk: Why This Matters for Gen Z

We live in an era of "fake news" and "alternative facts," but the Kelly Affair proves that this isn't new. It was a masterclass in how power can be used to silence those who question the official narrative.

The Takeaway:

1. Question the Narrative: Don't take "intelligence reports" at face value. Data can be framed to suit a political agenda.

2. Protect Whistleblowers: Dr. Kelly’s death led to massive changes in how the civil service handles internal dissent. We need brave voices like his.

3. Integrity is Everything: Once a government loses the trust of its people, it is incredibly hard to get back.

🔗 Reliable & Reputable Sources

• The Hutton Inquiry - Full Evidence: http://www.the-hutton-inquiry.org.uk/

• BBC News - The Death of Dr. David Kelly: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-11603527

• The Guardian - A Life in Pieces: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/sep/28/davidkelly.uk

• UK Parliament - Foreign Affairs Committee Minutes: https://publications.parliament.uk/

"Nothing should detract from Dr. Kelly's fine record of public service... but his death remains the ultimate price for telling the truth."

Do you think the government was directly responsible for Dr. Kelly's death, or was he a victim of a media storm?

The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) is a leading force in the fight for human rights and social justice. Utilizing creative legal strategies, CCR challenges government and corporate abuse, ensuring that constitutional rights and civil liberties are protected for all citizens.

From fighting Mass Incarceration and Racial Injustice to protecting LGBTQI rights and demanding accountability for Guantanamo and Torture, War Crimes, & Militarism, CCR litigates landmark cases that transform legal and political systems. Follow CCR's work to stay informed about your rights and how they are working to secure justice and systemic change across America.

The official website for the Center for Constitutional Rights is: ccrjustice.org