El Fasher

Lord Callanan Excerpts

Thursday 30th October 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

I thank the noble and gallant Lord for that important question. The Government’s view is clear: external support to the SAF and the RSF only fuels the conflict. We continue to emphasise to all parties the importance of refraining from actions that prolong the conflict. We ask all those with influence over the warring parties—including the members of the Quad, of which the UAE is one—to bring them to the negotiating table to seek a political resolution. I may say more about this if noble Lords ask me about it, but the most important thing is humanitarian access.

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

My Lords, more than 5% of the population in Sudan are Christian. Since the start of the civil war in Sudan, there have been reports of both the RSF and the SAF targeting the Christian population. What engagement have the UK Government had with other Governments in the region to help to support and protect their Christian populations?

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord for that question. We are very concerned about religious violence in Sudan, and indeed anywhere else in the world, and we certainly have sought to engage with the RSF on this. As the noble Lord knows, this conflict has a long history. I visited Sudan myself many years ago.