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A British-led initiative aimed at forming a contact group to initiate ceasefire discussions in Sudan disintegrated on Tuesday after Arab nations declined to endorse a joint statement following a conference in London.
The prolonged disagreements among Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates over the communique signal a significant diplomatic setback for efforts to resolve the ongoing civil conflict that has persisted for two years in Sudan.
Recent weeks have seen a surge in violence resulting in casualties among civilians in two refugee camps in Darfur, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis as millions have been forced to flee their homes due to the ongoing strife. The UK Foreign Office expressed disappointment over the failure to reach a political consensus but maintained that some progress had been made during the discussions.
In light of the absence of a final statement, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, alongside his counterparts from France, Germany, the African Union, and the EU, released a joint statement committing to bolster efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution while denouncing all activities, including foreign interference, that could exacerbate tensions or perpetuate the conflict.
The collective statement emphasized the necessity for a resolution that safeguards Sudan’s territorial integrity, avoiding division.
Lammy opened the conference with optimistic remarks, highlighting the urgent need for intervention in Sudan, a nation ravaged by atrocities, including systemic violence against civilians and a growing famine crisis. He expressed moral outrage at the ongoing suffering, emphasizing the imperative for the international community not to turn a blind eye.
However, his attempts to convince Arab states to agree on a framework for a diplomatic contact group failed to materialize.
Officials clarified that the conference was not intended as a mediation platform or a forum for pledging aid, but rather aimed at fostering a shared political vision for Sudan’s future among the involved nations.
The nature of the conflict has evolved into a complex, multifaceted crisis, with Lammy not inviting key Sudanese stakeholders or civilian representatives to the discussions. The conference aimed to establish an African Union-led contact group and secure renewed commitments to lift aid restrictions.
The civil war erupted in April 2023, driven by a contentious power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, led by commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti.
An essential goal of forming the contact group was to encourage Middle Eastern countries to prioritize a diplomatic solution rather than bolstering the warring parties. However, finding neutral language acceptable to both Egypt and the UAE regarding Sudan’s future proved challenging from the outset.
Accusations have long circulated regarding the UAE’s alleged arming of the RSF, claims which the UAE has consistently denied, while Egypt has maintained its close association with the Sudanese military.
The Sudanese government voiced criticism toward the conference planners for excluding it from the talks while extending an invitation to the UAE.
UAE Minister for Political Affairs Lana Nusseibeh, present at the conference, condemned both factions for committing atrocities and highlighted the need for an unconditional ceasefire and unobstructed humanitarian aid deliveries. She voiced support for transitioning to a civilian-led governance structure in Sudan.
The conflict has led to horrific violence, with both the army and the RSF implicated in numerous atrocities, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands and displacing over 13 million people, while pushing large regions into famine.
The RSF has recently intensified its military efforts, capturing two refugee camps in Darfur as it seeks to seize El Fasher, the last major population center in the region not under its control.
In response to the dire humanitarian needs, Lammy announced an additional £120 million in aid from the UK Foreign Office’s emergency budget, aimed at providing food assistance to approximately 650,000 individuals. Concurrently, the German foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, pledged €125 million (£105 million) for Sudan and its neighboring countries.
Human rights and aid organizations have called upon the international community to take action against the nations contributing to the arms supply for the conflicting parties, in violation of a United Nations arms embargo.
Yasmine Ahmed, the UK director of Human Rights Watch, warned of the grave repercussions if the conference allowed those involved in the violence to participate without any productive outcome. She stressed the need for a coalition of nations to mobilize political momentum to safeguard civilians in the conflict zone.
Kate Ferguson, co-director of Protection Approaches, noted that the conference would be a litmus test for Lammy’s leadership amidst global disorder and urged that unequivocal action must be taken to halt the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Darfur.
Despite calls for dialogue, both warring factions appear disinterested in pursuing peace, raising concerns that the country may eventually face a form of partition reflecting the current territorial divisions.
The backdrop to this conference includes ongoing reductions in the United States’ aid program, further complicating humanitarian efforts. Kate Phillips-Barrasso, a global policy vice-president at Mercy Corps, highlighted the challenges posed by reduced U.S. support, stressing that the cuts have left many in Sudan without essential services, endangering the lives of vulnerable populations.
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