A Westminster Hall debate on the conflict in Sudan brought together MPs from across the political parties to press the Government on humanitarian access, civilian protection, foreign involvement and the need for a Sudanese-led political settlement.
MPs held a dedicated Westminster Hall debate on the conflict in Sudan on Tuesday 8 September, amid continuing concern about the scale of the humanitarian emergency and the limited international attention it has received.
The debate was opened by Labour MP Naushabah Khan and chaired by Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP. Contributions came from Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Democratic Unionist Party MPs. Kirsty McNeill MP, Minister for International Development, responded on behalf of the Government.
Although Westminster Hall debates do not result in legislation or a binding vote, they allow MPs to question ministers and place concerns and policy proposals formally on the parliamentary record.
Calls for an immediate ceasefire
There was broad cross-party agreement that Sudan requires significantly greater political and diplomatic attention.
MPs called for an immediate humanitarian truce, a permanent ceasefire and unrestricted access for humanitarian organisations. Several speakers argued that there could be no military solution and that Sudan’s future should be determined through a civilian-led political process.
Naushabah Khan described the regional consequences of the conflict and the experiences of Sudanese refugees, drawing on a parliamentary visit to Egypt. She highlighted famine, attacks on humanitarian convoys, conflict-related sexual violence and the serious shortfall in international humanitarian funding.
She urged the Government to use the United Kingdom’s position as the UN Security Council penholder on Sudan to pursue humanitarian access, civilian protection and a credible political process.
Concerns about famine and humanitarian access
David Mundell MP focused on famine, child malnutrition and the deteriorating situation around El Obeid. He warned that aid was being weaponised and called for stronger action to prevent the city experiencing conditions similar to those seen in El Fasher.
Anneliese Dodds MP raised the encirclement of El Obeid, fighting in Blue Nile, insecurity in the Nuba Mountains and the spread of cholera and dengue. She also criticised restrictions on humanitarian assistance imposed by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
Gregory Campbell MP stressed that only a properly coordinated international response would be capable of addressing a crisis of Sudan’s scale.
Accountability for all armed parties
A number of MPs called for accountability for violations committed by both sides.
Brian Leishman MP characterised the conflict as a struggle between two military factions and said both sides bore responsibility. He called for an end to foreign military assistance and for all perpetrators of abuses to be held accountable.
Leishman argued that Sudan’s eventual transition should exclude the warring parties and representatives of the former regime. He said resistance committees, trade unions and committees representing displaced people should be involved in determining the country’s future.
Jim Shannon MP focused on freedom of religion or belief. He said both armed factions had attacked places of worship and terrorised religious communities. He called for evidence to be preserved for future prosecutions and for religious protections to form part of any future constitutional settlement.
Wendy Morton MP, responding for the Conservative front bench, also said there could be no military solution. She supported an immediate humanitarian truce, a permanent ceasefire and a civilian-led transition in which Sudanese civilians, including women, would play a central role.
Sexual violence and the protection of women
Nesil Caliskan MP placed particular emphasis on the experiences of Sudanese families and members of the Sudanese community in her Barking constituency.
She called for an immediate ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian assistance, while drawing attention to the disproportionate impact of conflict-related sexual violence on women and girls.
Caliskan pressed the Government to continue its £20 million programme supporting survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. The minister subsequently confirmed that the programme would continue.
Tom Hayes MP also raised the dangers facing Sudanese women and girls who had fled to Egypt, including continued exposure to sexual abuse and exploitation after displacement.
Foreign states, weapons and illicit gold
The role of external governments, arms suppliers, financial networks and the illicit gold trade featured prominently throughout the debate.
Several MPs supported extending the United Nations arms embargo to cover the whole of Sudan. They also called for tighter sanctions, stronger scrutiny of arms-export licences and action against individuals and businesses accused of facilitating the conflict.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP delivered the debate’s strongest criticism of alleged United Arab Emirates involvement. He raised allegations concerning weapons supplies, Colombian mercenaries and financial networks supporting the RSF, and called for sanctions against those facilitating such activity.
Rachael Maskell MP described Sudan as a proxy conflict involving external actors including the UAE, Egypt and Russia. She called for increased humanitarian assistance, stronger international accountability and greater support for Sudanese civil society and community leaders.
Other issues raised included drone warfare, alleged chemical-weapons use, arms procurement and the movement of Sudanese gold through international markets.
Government response
Responding for the Government, Kirsty McNeill said the scale of the conflict required compassion to be matched by action.
The minister confirmed that the UK had committed £146 million in humanitarian support for Sudan, which the Government expected to reach more than 1.8 million people.
She also confirmed:
- A £20 million programme providing medical and psychological care to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
- Increased support for Sudanese local responders, including emergency response rooms.
- UK support for extending the UN arms embargo across the whole of Sudan.
- Continued diplomatic engagement with the African Union, states with influence over the conflict and the warring parties.
- Support for documenting atrocities and extending the mandate of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan.
- Sanctions targeting commanders, arms suppliers, mercenaries and networks involved in the illicit gold trade.
- Continued engagement with Sudanese civil society and the diaspora.
The minister said that more than 3,000 arms-export licences involving destinations linked to alleged diversion or transit had been reviewed. She told MPs that the Government had found no evidence that UK-manufactured weapons were being used in Sudan.
Following a request from David Mundell, McNeill also agreed that the Government should be proactive in making statements to Parliament about developments in Sudan.
Civilian participation
Several contributions went beyond general calls for civilian government and identified the groups that should be involved in any future political process.
MPs referred to resistance committees, trade unions, women’s organisations, displaced communities, local humanitarian responders and other civil-society organisations.
The debate concluded with broad agreement on the need for a ceasefire, civilian protection, accountability and a Sudanese-led political settlement. However, no new sanctions or immediate diplomatic initiative were announced.
Watch and read the debate
Watch the Sudan debate from 2.30pm
Watch the full Westminster Hall sitting