Port Sudan-Al-Yurae– – Sudanese Army Commander and Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, held high-level talks on Monday with a British military delegation in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, discussing prospects for a ceasefire and efforts to restore peace and stability in the country.
According to an official statement by the Sovereignty Council, the meeting brought together Vice Admiral Edward Ahlgren, the UK’s Senior Defence Adviser for the Middle East and North Africa at the Ministry of Defence, alongside Richard Crowder, the UK Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa, and the British Defence Attaché in Cairo.
The discussions focused on the overall situation in Sudan, efforts to re-establish stability, and ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in defense, humanitarian support, and development.
Speaking after the meeting, Richard Crowder reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s support for the Sudanese people, noting that his country stands ready to assist in restoring security, basic services, and economic recovery.
He emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire, stressing the responsibility of all parties to protect civilians under the Jeddah Declaration for the Protection of Civilians, signed on 11 May 2023 under US and Saudi mediation.
Crowder reiterated Britain’s long-standing partnership with Sudan and praised the historical ties between the two nations, particularly in education, culture, and economic development. He also highlighted the significant contributions of the Sudanese diaspora in the UK to British society.
The British delegation expressed deep shock over reports from El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, where the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) allegedly carried out widespread mass killings and atrocities following their takeover of the city in October last year.
These talks come ahead of Britain’s assumption of the UN Security Council presidency in February, and prior to a Germany–UK hosted donor conference scheduled for April in Berlin aimed at mobilizing international support for Sudan.
Crowder stressed the importance of coordinated international efforts, led by the United States and other partners, to end the conflict, deliver humanitarian assistance, and ensure accountability for atrocities.
He reaffirmed London’s commitment to close coordination with the US, Norway, the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union to secure lasting peace and stability in Sudan.