Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially objected to an upcoming international conference on the Sudan crisis scheduled to take place in London this month, expressing frustration at being excluded while countries it accuses of supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been invited.
The high-level conference, jointly organized by the European Union, United Kingdom, France, and Germany, is set to take place in mid-April. It aims to address the growing humanitarian crisis in Sudan and mobilize international support for the United Nations humanitarian response plan, which targets assistance to over 20.9 million people affected by the conflict.
In a statement released on Sunday, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssif said he had sent a written protest to UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, criticizing the decision to hold the conference without Sudan’s official participation. The minister accused the UK and its allies of extending invitations to countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Chad, and Kenya, which Khartoum claims have played direct roles in supporting the RSF.
Sudan has long accused the UAE of supplying weapons and drones to the RSF through Chad — a charge the UAE denies. Sudan has also filed a case against the UAE at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), with hearings set for April 10, alleging the Gulf state is complicit in genocide against the Masalit ethnic group in West Darfur.
The Sudanese statement claimed the UK is helping the UAE “beautify its image” by allowing it to participate in peace-focused conferences while ignoring its alleged role in fueling the war. It also criticized the postponement of a UN Security Council session previously scheduled for April 29, 2024, which was intended to address UAE arms supplies to the RSF.
“If the Security Council had discussed this matter and taken a decisive stance, it would have saved countless innocent lives and contributed to ending the war,” the statement read.
The Foreign Ministry also condemned what it described as a British policy that equates a legitimate state with a paramilitary group. The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemetti), has been accused of committing atrocities across the country, including mass killings, sexual violence, and forced displacement.
The Sudanese government described the RSF as a terrorist militia and said British policy had shown leniency toward the group. It referenced reports in British media of alleged secret communications between the UK Foreign Office and RSF representatives, despite the group being sanctioned by the United States.
Foreign Minister Youssif’s message reportedly warned that “many in Sudan are now asking how many more atrocities and massacres must the RSF commit before Britain recognizes it as a terrorist organization.”
The statement concluded by urging the UK to reconsider its approach and to engage directly with Sudan’s internationally recognized government. It called for a policy based on constructive dialogue and respect for Sudan’s sovereignty, while referencing the long-standing historical relationship between the two nations.