Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for UK policy of the recent attacks by the Government of Sudan in the Jebel Marra region of Darfur.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
We are aware of reports of fighting in the Jebel Marra region of Darfur between Government of Sudan troops and armed groups. Information is difficult to verify due to Government restrictions on access to the region. We are urging the Government of Sudan to ensure unfettered access for UNAMID, UN agencies and NGOs in order to corroborate reports and make an assessment of the scale and nature of fighting and its impact on civilians.
We will continue to monitor developments closely and raise our concerns about the violence and its impact with the Sudanese authorities. The British Ambassador raised our concerns with the President of Sudan during the formal presentation of his credentials on 14 May. Our Ambassador reiterated the importance of the unilateral cessations of hostilities, and urged all sides to abide by their pledges so that negotiations may resume in an environment that is conducive to peace.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department raised the matter of attacks made by the Rapid Support Forces on the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North Malik Agar branch on 25 April 2018 at the most recent round of the UK-Sudan Strategic Dialogue in Khartoum; and whether those attacks constitute a violation of the unilateral ceasefire agreed by the Government of Sudan.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The Fifth Round of the UK-Sudan Strategic Dialogue took place in Khartoum on 24 April. Discussions covered a range of issues, including the peace process. We welcomed the Government of Sudan's extension of the unilateral cessation of hostilities to 30 June 2018 and urged both the Government and rebel movements to abide by their announcements so that peace negotiations can resume in a conducive environment. A communique of the Fifth Round is available on the British Government's website.
Reports of violence in Blue Nile State emerged after the Strategic Dialogue. We raised our concerns about them with the Government of Sudan on 9 May, reiterating the UK and international community's expectation that the unilateral cessations of hostilities is observed by both sides. While presenting his credentials to the President of Sudan on 14 May, the British Ambassador took the opportunity to repeat this message. Additionally, the UK Defence Attaché raised the issue with the Sudanese Armed Forces on the same date.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government provides (a) financial or (b) technical support to the Sudan Call group of opposition organisations in Sudan.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Although the British Government does not provide any financial or technical support to the Sudan Call alliance of opposition groups, we engage with them regularly in Khartoum and the UK to encourage them (as well as the Government) to return to the negotiating table and make progress at the peace talks mediated by the African Union High Level Implementation Panel.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he had had with the Sudanese Foreign Minister, Ibrahim Ghandour, on the detention without charge of Sidgi Kaballo.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The UK Ambassador, Chargé d’Affaires, and the Special Representative for Sudan continue to raise the UK’s deep concerns about the continued detention of Dr Kaballo with the Sudanese Foreign Minister and senior officials. We continue to urge the Government of Sudan to release Dr Kaballo, and all those who have been recently detained. We did so most recently in a meeting with the Sudanese Ambassador to the UK in London on 20 March.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has received reports that Sudanese nationals returning from Belgium to Sudan were (a) detained, (b) interrogated and (c) tortured in Sudan.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The UK is aware of reports alleging the detention and mistreatment of Sudanese nationals returning to Sudan from Belgium. In December 2017, shortly following these reports, the Belgian Commissioner-General for Refugees and Stateless Persons launched an inquiry regarding the risk in cases of return to Sudan. This inquiry has now completed its investigation, but has not been able conclusively to verify whether or not the allegations were accurate. It is vital that all individuals returning to Sudan are treated in accordance with international standards.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on whether the journalist Amal Habani was hospitalised after being beaten by Sudanese security officials.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
We are aware of allegations made about the treatment of Amal Habani during her arrest. We continue to call on the Government of Sudan to release all those detained following recent protests as soon as possible and continue to make clear our expectation that all detainees will be treated in accordance with international standards. More widely, we urge the Government of Sudan to implement the recommendations of the National Dialogue that relate to limiting the powers of the National Intelligence and Security Service to arrest and detain individuals.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he holds on the arrest and detention of Salih Mahmoud, vice chair of the Darfur Bar Association.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
We are aware of the arrest and detention of Salih Mahmoud. We continue to call on the Government of Sudan to release all those detained following recent protests as soon as possible and continue to make clear our expectation that all detainees will be treated in accordance with international standards. More widely, we urge the Government of Sudan to implement the recommendations of the National Dialogue that relate to limiting the powers of the National Intelligence and Security Service to arrest and detain individuals.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received on whether the Government of Sudan has released political detainees on the condition that they do not organise protests in the future.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
We are not aware of specific incidents of individuals being required not to organise protests as a condition of their release. However, we continue to make clear to the Government of South Sudan our expectation that all detainees will be treated in accordance with international standards. This includes ensuring their unconditional release if there are no charges to be brought against them.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what report he has received on whether all 80 of the detainees included in the Government of Sudan’s announcement of 18 February 2018 have been released.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The British Government remains concerned about the arbitrary arrest and continued detention without charge or trial of a number of activists involved in recent protests in Sudan. We have continually raised the issue with the Government of Sudan. We have received estimates that around 40 detainees have been released.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the proportionality and compatibility with international human rights conventions of the response from the Government of Sudan towards demonstrators following protests which began on 12 January 2018 due to sharp rises in the price of bread.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The British Government remains concerned about the arbitrary arrest and continued detention without charge or trial of a number of activists involved in recent protests in Sudan. We have continually raised the issue with the Government of Sudan. While we have not seen evidence of systemic mistreatment among the general prison population in Sudan, there is considerable evidence that facilities operated by the National Intelligence and Security Services do routinely mistreat detainees. We continue to call on the Government of Sudan to release all these remaining detainees as soon as possible, and continue to make clear our expectation that all detainees will be treated in accordance with international standards. More widely, we urge the Government of Sudan to implement the recommendations of the National Dialogue that relate to limiting the powers of the National Intelligence and Security Service to arrest and detain individuals.