In scale and scope, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are facing the world’s largest humanitarian and human rights crises. The numbers are staggering. In Sudan, more than 12 million people have been displaced and 30 million are in critical need of food and medical aid. In Congo, roughly 8 million people have been forced to leave their homes, while 28 million face acute food insecurity.

Compassion fatigue, hyper-politicized news cycles, and other factors have resulted in these two conflicts being largely off the world’s radar. But whether they know it or not, global consumers remain deeply connected to Sudan and Congo.

In scale and scope, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are facing the world’s largest humanitarian and human rights crises. The numbers are staggering. In Sudan, more than 12 million people have been displaced and 30 million are in critical need of food and medical aid. In Congo, roughly 8 million people have been forced to leave their homes, while 28 million face acute food insecurity.

Compassion fatigue, hyper-politicized news cycles, and other factors have resulted in these two conflicts being largely off the world’s radar. But whether they know it or not, global consumers remain deeply connected to Sudan and Congo.

In addition to a range of everyday products, some of the most popular sports teams and leagues in the world are linked to these conflicts. The United Arab Emirates and Rwanda—the two main external contributors to Sudan and Congo’s human devastation—have struck deals with the U.S. National Basketball Association (NBA) and English Premier League teams, to name just two.

But this also creates an avenue for ordinary people to push back. Fan-based pressure in response to these sportswashing arrangements yielded its first victory earlier this month, as Bayern Munich announced changes to a sponsorship deal with Rwanda. Now the stage is set for further action.

Beyond sports, the list of products we consume that use ingredients from Congo or Sudan is endless. From Sudan, they include soda, energy drinks, cookies, cakes, marshmallows, candy, watercolor paints, pharmaceutical drugs, lipstick, shoe polish, incense, postage stamps, and newspapers. From Congo, the list includes electronics products (such as phones and laptops); tin cans; coins; airplane engines; cameras; medical implants; and anything with a rechargeable battery, including electric and hybrid cars.

In Sudan, the media focuses on oil and gold, which have indeed fueled conflict for decades. But there’s another ubiquitous raw material that uniquely........

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