On Tuesday, the United Kingdom announced an additional £120 million ($158 million) in humanitarian aid for Sudan, describing the war-torn country as the “worst humanitarian crisis on record.” The pledge came as Britain hosted an international conference in London to mark the second anniversary of Sudan’s brutal conflict.
The war, which broke out in April 2023 following a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has left Sudan in a state of collapse. Millions have been displaced, and famine is spreading, particularly in regions like Darfur, where the RSF is entrenched and resisting government advances around the capital, Khartoum.
Speaking at the conference, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the warring factions for their “appalling disregard” for civilians. “We need to act now to stop the crisis from becoming an all-out catastrophe,” he said. “Much of the world continues to look away — that must change.”
The London conference, co-hosted by the UK alongside the African Union, European Union, France, and Germany, aims to improve coordination of the global response to the crisis. Other key attendees include Egypt, Kenya, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
However, Sudan’s government criticized the event, expressing outrage over not being invited. In a letter to Lammy, Sudan’s foreign minister objected to the participation of Kenya and the UAE — accusing the latter of supplying arms to the RSF, a charge the UAE denies but which has been deemed credible by UN experts and U.S. lawmakers. Sudan has also recalled its ambassador to Kenya following Nairobi’s role in hosting talks between the RSF and its allies.
Bankole Adeoye, the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, emphasized the need for inclusivity. “Achieving peace in Sudan depends on valuing every voice and everyone playing a role in building a prosperous Sudan,” he said.
Despite the new funding commitment, the UK has faced criticism for cuts to its overall foreign aid budget to boost defense spending. While Prime Minister Keir Starmer has maintained that Sudan remains a top humanitarian priority—alongside Gaza and Ukraine—his development minister recently resigned, arguing that the government’s aid strategy was unsustainable and would harm the UK’s international reputation.
In a separate development on Tuesday, a group of lawyers submitted a 141-page dossier to the UK police’s war crimes unit, detailing alleged atrocities committed by the RSF. The lawyers requested that the file be forwarded to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has jurisdiction over crimes committed in Darfur. They hope this step will encourage greater cooperation between British authorities and the ICC in holding perpetrators accountable.
