Over the past few years, there has been increasing attention on the Western media’s reporting of conflicts, especially in developing nations where Western interests are involved.
The case of current Sudan conflict is a classic example of this trend. While the country has been embroiled in a bloody conflict, the Western media has paid scant attention to the suffering of the local population.
Instead, their focus has been on the evacuation of Westerners, as if the lives of the locals are not as important. This kind of reporting is reminiscent of the situation in Somalia in 1990 and the recent debacle in Afghanistan, where the Western media appeared more interested in showcasing the latest military technology and equipment used to extract their own people.
The Western media’s fixation on the evacuation of Westerners is a reflection of the wider issue of Western interests dictating the agenda of international reporting. It is as if the lives of the locals are of little importance, and the only newsworthy aspect of the conflict is the potential threat to Western interests.
The problem with this kind of reporting is that it perpetuates a one-sided narrative that does not provide a full picture of the conflict. It also reinforces the idea that Western lives are more valuable than those of people from developing countries. This is a dangerous narrative that only serves to fuel resentment and mistrust towards the West.
Moreover, the Western media’s focus on the evacuation of Westerners ignores the fact that the root causes of the conflict in Sudan are complex and deeply rooted. The conflict has its roots in historical, political, economic and external hegemony factors, and cannot be reduced to a simple narrative of Western evacuations.
Having said that, It is high time for the media to take a more balanced and nuanced approach to reporting on conflicts in developing countries.
Facebook Comments