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Why more stars might follow Macklemore’s lead

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Why more stars might follow Macklemore’s lead

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Reuters view of Dubai skyline with several skyscrapers and an artificial canal filled with sparkling blue water against a lightening skyReuters

The UAE, whose largest city is Dubai, has been accused of arming Sudanese paramilitary forces implicated in genocide

When fans saw that rapper Macklemore had canceled an upcoming show, some saw it as a show of solidarity with Gaza.

But it was not to be. The show was in Dubai, and he had cancelled it because of the war in Sudan, which has killed tens of thousands, left millions starving and unleashed a humanitarian disaster.

The glamorous Gulf city of Dubai is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is widely accused of funding the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), one of Sudan’s warring parties.

“The crisis in Sudan is catastrophic.” McLemore posted on Instagram on Monday:Some food security experts estimate that as many as 2.5 million people could die from hunger and disease by October.

“I have to ask myself, what is my purpose as an artist?” continued the rapper, who rose to fame with his 2012 classic “Thrift Shop.”

“If I took the money,” McLemore said, “even though I knew it was not in my spirit, how would I be any different than the politicians I’ve been actively protesting against?”

His moral stance has propelled this brutal conflict – which has received far less global attention than the conflicts in Ukraine or Gaza – into popular culture, and activists hope other artists will follow suit.

“It’s been huge,” said one activist who has been campaigning for a ceasefire in London. “A lot of people have been commenting, ‘Oh my god, what’s happening in Sudan?’

“I think it’s been an eye-opener for people.”

Getty Images Macklemore sat on the stage, smiling, holding the microphone in front of him. A photo of him was also on the screen behind him.Getty Images

Campaigners and charities hope Macklemore’s decision will raise awareness of the conflict

The Rapid Security Forces are battling Sudanese troops for control of the country and have been accused of sexual violence, looting and ethnic cleansing in areas under their control.

A Human Rights Watch report states RSF may be committing genocide It is claimed that 15,000 people were killed in the city, but the group denies this.

The RSF traces its origins to a militia group called the Janjaweed. Also charged with genocide In Sudan 20 years ago, an estimated 300,000 people died.

There is growing evidence of links between the UAE and the RSF.

During the war, the RSF used drones, and an Amnesty International weapons expert described The same drone that the UAE provides to its allies Among other conflicts are Ethiopia and Yemen.

Experts also saw civilian aircraft suspected of transporting weapons from the UAE to the Rapid Security Forces, according to a UN report submitted to the Security Council earlier this year.

The allegations are that the UAE is trying to gain an economic foothold in the Red Sea and profit from Sudan’s resources.

The RSF controls some of Sudan’s most lucrative gold mines in the Darfur region.

Middle East Map

A Swiss aid group claims that the UAE Billions of dollars worth of precious metals are imported and then smuggled out of Africaincluding Sudan.

Last year, before widespread fighting broke out in the country, the UAE signed a $6 billion deal to build and operate a port, airport and economic zone on the country’s Red Sea coast.

The UAE government has said allegations of its involvement in Sudan’s conflict are “baseless and unfounded” and aimed at “diverting attention from the ongoing fighting and humanitarian disaster”.

“The UAE reiterates its call for an immediate ceasefire to end the current conflict,” the UAE said in a statement submitted to the United Nations. “The warring parties must stop fighting and work to find a peaceful solution to the conflict through dialogue.”

McLemore said on Instagram that he had been contacted by several groups over the months regarding the Sudan crisis.

A representative of the British Sudanese group Madaniya told BBC News: “A boycott by a well-known artist will obviously bring more attention to the Sudanese cause, which is good.”

“If more people start paying attention to the UAE’s involvement in Sudan, that would be a wonderful secondary consequence.”

In the coming weeks, Calvin Harris will perform at Dubai Harbour and Sophie Ellis-Bextor will perform at the Opera House.

Neither responded to requests for comment.

Will a boycott change anything?

Professor Alex de Waal, a Sudan expert at Tufts University in Massachusetts, believes cultural and sports boycotts could be an effective way to target regional powers accused of inciting war.

He said the UAE and Saudi Arabia were competing for influence in Africa and were backing opposing factions on Sudan. The UAE and Saudi embassies in London have not responded to the BBC’s request for comment.

Professor de Waal is convinced that the economic power of Arab opponents is so strong that no one is likely to sanction them – and says any such measures would be difficult to implement.

He added that it would not be a priority for many Western countries as they are focused on Israel’s war in Gaza and tensions with Iran.

But he also said the UAE and Saudi Arabia take their reputation on the international stage very seriously.

“It is more effective for cultural figures and sports figures to say ‘we’re not going there’ than to threaten trade sanctions or economic penalties.

“I think what’s interesting is that soft power is a much stronger threat to them than hard power, and has much greater potential.”

Dr Crystal Murphy, an expert on East African finance at Chapman University in California, said Protests against apartheid in South Africa Ultimately “rewriting political science and international relations.”

She explained: “The boycott was the result of a large number of members of the public and celebrities organising and raising awareness of the issue, with enough people putting pressure on the government.

“So it could happen,” she added. “What’s the difference between Macklemore and the South African boycott?”

Activists still have a long way to go to achieve a boycott of that scale, but they hope momentum will grow after Macklemore’s action.

A Madaniya representative said the warring generals were trying to destroy the fabric of Sudanese society. But that has not stopped activists. “There is always hope for the Sudanese people.”

Some may already be following in McLemore’s footsteps.

One commenter on his post said they had been invited to speak at a conference in the UAE but now said: “Your post encouraged me to do more research so I have decided to decline the invitation.”

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