Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of ending human trafficking in Sudan's neighbouring countries; and what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the initiative established by Sudan's Higher Committee to Combat Human Trafficking.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We have made no formal assessment, however tackling the root causes of irregular migration, combatting organised immigration crime and addressing the devastating effects of trafficking, in both the human cost for victims and the economic implications, are key UK priorities in Sudan and the region. Sudan is a source, transit, and destination country for migrants, many of whom are vulnerable to human trafficking. The UK continues to work with the Government of Sudan's Higher Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, which we understand, will play the role of national coordination mechanism; who along with civil society representatives, continue to be important partners for the UK in our work to tackle human trafficking in the region.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which the Khartoum Peace Agreement has provided a model for negotiating peace in other neighbouring countries in Central Africa, such as the conflict in the Central African Republic.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Khartoum Declaration of Agreement signed in June 2018 was an important step that led to the 12 September peace agreement on South Sudan. The UK, along with our Troika partners (the USA and Norway), welcomed this step and commended the role of the region and individual leaders in bringing parties of the conflict together to help secure an end to conflict. Whilst the most effective model for negotiating peace agreements will inevitably vary depending on the circumstances, in this case among many factors the region's efforts were important to progress: lessons should be considered and applied wherever possible elsewhere. It is also essential to recognise that any agreement is part of a process and a platform on which longer-term stability can be built.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to continue to economically and politically support Sudan.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK provides no direct financial support to the Government of Sudan. Instead, the UK provides humanitarian assistance and support to a range of programmes focused on political and economic reform, Sudan's peace process and UK development objectives. Our bilateral political engagement with Sudan takes place principally through the British Embassy in Khartoum and through biannual Strategic Dialogues between senior officials. We have raised, both publicly and directly with the Government of Sudan, our deep concern at the government's violent response to recent protests in Sudan. As we made clear with Troika partners (the USA and Norway) and Canada in our statement of 8 January, the Government of Sudan's actions and decisions over the coming weeks will have an impact on our approach to future. We continue to urge the Government of Sudan to undertake much needed economic and political reforms to support prosperity and the rights of the people of Sudan and continue to stand ready to assist these efforts.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the economic situation in Sudan since the loss of revenue following the establishment of South Sudan.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The process that led to the establishment of South Sudan in July 2011 included an agreement on the division of resources and assets with Sudan. This included an agreed 75% reduction of the Government of Sudan's pre-2011 oil revenues, which at that time accounted for the majority of Sudan's foreign exchange earnings. The current economic situation in Sudan is fragile with frequent reports of fuel and food shortages, currency deflation and price inflation creating significant pressures on the people of Sudan. This has been exacerbated by a shortage of foreign exchange. We continue to encourage Sudan to undertake macroeconomic reforms which are essential to making progress towards debt relief and to economic stability for the benefit of the Sudanese people.