Solidarity with the Sudanese people

Neither brutal assaults, nor cruel mistreatment, nor torture have ever led me to beg for mercy, for I prefer to die with my head held high, unshakable faith, and the greatest confidence in the destiny of my country rather than live in slavery and contempt for sacred principles. – Patrice Lumumber.

I went to the rally for Sudan in Brisbane yesterday. Many of us would have seen the horrifying things happening in Darfur and felt that it’s too removed from us to do much. But just recently I started looking into it more and learned that the United Arab Emirates (who seem to be the ones financing and arming the RSF committing atrocities in Darfur) are actually the number one client for weapons made in Australia.

Having eventually seen some success in stopping Australian made weapons from going to Israel, I feel like it might be time for a new campaign to get an arms embargo on the UAE until they break off any links with the RSF. I will probably be doing more around this in the near future, so stay tuned.
– **Andy Paine** – The Paradigm Shift 4ZZZ Fridays at Noon
29 November 2025

**Photo** Ian Curr

In defence of the placard and the rally for al Fashir in solidarity with Sudan

Andy Paine’s placard is both relevant and important because the people of Dafur are the victims of a proxy war being conducted by the UAE against the Sudanese government. The prize is gold.

On a positive note. Regarding the question about successful left-wing campaigns. My family have been engaged in African liberation struggles all my adult life. My personal active engagement began at UQ in July 1971 when I, with 3,000 others, threw our hands in the air to go on strike against apartheid in South Africa during the racist Springbok tour. That was a successful struggle, and the solidarity movement pushing for sanctions played a role in it. My older sister Pamela Curr has campaigned long and hard for the rights of the Sudanese people particularly Refugees from Dafur. She worked for an organisation that provided 1000 meals every day for refugees, largely from Africa and many from Sudan. My Auntie sponsored children from Africa for many years.

Solidarity. We should not exaggerate the impact of the solidarity movement because the struggle was won on the ground by resistance organised by the African National Congress. It was the ANC that conducted armed struggle with Cuban comrades that brought the South African government and apartheid to its knees.