Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he took to help avoid conflict in Sudan.

Prior to the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the British Ambassador and Embassy in Khartoum had engaged intensively with the two military leaderships to encourage progress towards a final political agreement and the transfer of power to a civilian administration. We provided expertise to support and inform discussions between the SAF, RSF and civilian parties on mechanisms and timelines for reforming and integrating the two forces. Engagement was conducted through the Quad (UK, US, UAE, KSA), and Troika (UK, US, Norway), in support of the tripartite mechanism's (United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan, African Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development) facilitation role.

The UK also maintained pressure through its statements on Sudan and through resolutions at the UN Human Rights Council and Security Council. The UK's Special Representative for Sudan, alongside Special Envoys and Representatives from the Troika, EU, France and Germany, met with General Burhan and General Hemedti in February 2023. Two days before the outbreak of hostilities, the UK issued a joint public statement with Troika, EU, France and Germany calling for de-escalation of tensions.