House of Commons · Urgent Question
13 January 2025 · 22 other contributors
Opened by Andrew Mitchell Con Sutton Coldfield
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Andrew Mitchell raised concerns about sudan us determination of genocide 2025-01-13 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Will the Minister confirm the Government's response to the United States' determination of genocide in Sudan? The urgency stems from mounting evidence of atrocities against civilians, particularly in Darfur. Mr Mitchell wishes to urge more action on this humanitarian crisis.
Question
The right hon. Gentleman talks about the need for political leadership to press the warring parties and calls on the Government to do more on atrocity crimes in Sudan, including considering funding Adama Dieng’s office as the African Union special adviser on the prevention of genocide.
Minister reply
We are determined to use every mechanism available to raise the profile of this issue. We have doubled our aid to Sudan and work closely with the African Union on fact-finding missions.
Question
The hon. Friend raises concerns about gender-based violence in Sudan and asks if the Government will review their sanctions policy, both for perpetrators on the ground and enablers abroad.
Minister reply
We do not discuss the details of our sanctions policy publicly to avoid reducing their effectiveness.
Question
The right hon. Lady asks about additional steps on sanctions, pressure on non-domestic involvement in conflict, and leveraging UN Security Council position. She also seeks assurances that UK aid is reaching the intended recipients.
Minister reply
We will continue to press for a ceasefire at the UN Security Council and have made it clear there is no reason for any other country to be involved in Sudan except humanitarian support.
Question
As we have heard, the situation for women and girls is particularly severe in Sudan. Will the Minister outline what steps we are taking to ensure that those perpetrating gender-based violence are being held to account?
Minister reply
We must ensure accountability through robust international instruments and expert determinations by organisations such as the International Criminal Court (ICC). We have been working with civil society mechanisms to gather information on gender-based violence from social media, which will feed into the overall picture for accountability.
Question
Can the Minister update us on the Government’s work to deliver a political process to secure a ceasefire before the second anniversary of the conflict, so that a civilian Administration can begin the work of reconstruction?
Minister reply
We are seeking to use our role within the UN Security Council and our leadership of the Sudan core group within the UN Human Rights Council. Additionally, we seek bilateral and multilateral engagement to put these issues at the forefront, ensuring effective international instruments drive decisions on such matters.
Question
What more can she say about specific actions that the UK is taking to prevent the targeting of innocent humanitarian aid workers in Sudan?
Minister reply
The UK Government are determined to ensure that issues related to the safety of aid workers are raised and addressed. We seek to enable those working in dangerous situations to do so safely, protecting them under international humanitarian law.
Question
Does she still think that the Jeddah process can bring the warring parties together? What specific action have the UK Government taken in relation to international partners?
Question
What discussions have the Government had with actors in Sudan and regional actors to ensure full humanitarian access for those most at risk in Sudan, including children?
Minister reply
We welcome the agreement to extend the opening of the Adre crossing beyond the initial three-month extension. We need the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to commit to urgently facilitating access across lines of conflict to get support to those in desperate need.
Question
What new diplomatic steps are the Government taking to get food into affected areas, and will they commit to further funding for humanitarian assistance?
Minister reply
Following a disturbing determination by the IPC, we requested an urgent open briefing at the UN Security Council on 6 January to call for lifting of bureaucratic impediments, improved humanitarian access, and a political solution to prevent the deepening food and nutrition catastrophe.
Question
How is it that the situation in Sudan goes so under-reported? Is it simply too dangerous for journalists to be there? The Minister stresses the wish for no other country to intervene, but is it not the case that genocides tend to go on until someone stops the people committing them?
Minister reply
The right hon. Gentleman asks about media coverage and intervention. I was pleased that the BBC produced a major package on Tom Fletcher’s visit and there has been UN engagement, which is incredibly important. We need more focus on the situation and we have supported journalists, fact-finders, investigators and experts to visit Sudan.
Question
Following the previous question, there was a harrowing series on Sudan last week in which The Times reported that enforced starvation had been part of the arsenal of war. I know that the Sudanese community in Newport are deeply concerned for their friends and family, with no end to the conflict in sight. What is the Government doing to combat the deliberate restriction of aid?
Minister reply
I reassure my hon. Friend that we are determined to do all that we can to ensure that lifesaving aid in food, healthcare and other means is delivered to people in need so that the people who are suffering so much in Sudan are protected.
Question
Why is it that time after time in this House we are so reticent about using the word “genocide” when it is all around us and the evidence is there for us to see? Does the Minister stand by the Foreign Secretary’s assessment that it is only for international courts to make the assessment that millions must die before the term genocide can be used?
Minister reply
The Government believe it is critical that we have an approach to determining genocide that is consistent with our obligations under the genocide convention and the Rome statute. To have trust internationally in the system, it is critical that we ensure there is a clear, impartial and independent methodology for the determination of genocide.
Question
Irrespective of definitions of genocide, does my right hon. Friend agree that more external pressure is needed from the international community to deter those who would commit war crimes and ensure that humanitarian aid gets in, irrespective of local opposition?
Minister reply
Yes, I do on all counts.
Question
What discussion has the Minister, or any Foreign Office Minister, had with the incoming Trump Administration on the action they will take to support our penholder initiatives in Sudan?
Minister reply
It is critical that the UK works with the US and we have been working with our US counterparts on this issue. We are also working with others within the region, particularly the African Union.
Question
With the UN highlighting the staggering scale of sexual violence being perpetrated, particularly by the RSF, what work are we doing with international partners to ensure that we are delivering as much humanitarian funding as possible?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right: some of the reports we have heard in this regard are extremely disturbing. The UK supports UN bodies on this issue and ensures that we seek to support those who have been victims of these horrific crimes, including helping partners to provide clinical treatment, dignity kits and psychosocial services for survivors.
Question
Is the Minister committed to the introduction of a no-fly zone across Sudan, including drones, as is currently the case in Darfur?
Minister reply
A number of different mechanisms have been advocated but so far, we have not seen those mechanisms deliver the results that are so desperately needed. The UK is determined to work with our partners and internationally for a ceasefire.
Question
Can the Minister update us on what conversations the Government will have with the UAE, our ally, to account for its role in enabling this unimaginable violence?
Minister reply
We have had conversations with a range of different countries. Our position remains that there should not be engagement of any other nation within Sudan unless it is to deliver humanitarian aid.
Question
As the horrendous nature of this conflict becomes apparent, what steps is the UK taking to work with the International Criminal Court and the international community to ensure accountability for the perpetrators?
Minister reply
We have indeed been working with the ICC. The hon. Gentleman also talked about the UK’s role as penholder at the United Nations Security Council. That has been very important for us, particularly in seeking to get agreement about the protection of civilians.
Question
Can the Minister reassure the House that despite previous Government’s cuts to the aid budget, she will do as much as she can to protect the women and girls in Sudan?
Minister reply
We will seek to use every mechanism available to ensure that the UK is contributing to the protection of the women and young girls at such risk in Sudan.
Question
Have the Government made an assessment of what the continuation of this conflict will do to the number of Sudanese refugees seeking asylum in the United Kingdom?
Minister reply
Conflicts such as these tend to create refugees. The Government have made assessments and we continue to work with our partners.
Question
What measures can be taken to address the systematic sexual violence, ethnic cleansing, and regional instability caused by the conflict in Sudan?
Minister reply
I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his kind remarks. I have to say that I am so pleased to see that we have very strong cross-party concern on this issue and a determination to really make a difference for those suffering so much in Sudan and beyond its borders as refugees. He is right to point out that, should there continue to be this level of instability in Sudan itself, that will have a further knock-on impact. We are already seeing people in Chad under considerable pressure when it comes to food supplies as very large numbers of people are coming through from Sudan, and we have seen the same in South Sudan, so this conflict really is having a terrible impact regionally as well as in Sudan.
Government Response
I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for bringing this important urgent question to the House. The evidence of abhorrent atrocities in Darfur is mounting, with reports from the UN fact-finding mission detailing acts of murder, mutilation, sexual violence and torture by warring parties. While the UK condemns these actions strongly, our position on genocide determination differs from that of the US. We pledge millions in aid to Sudan and have implemented measures like asset freezes on entities linked to RSF and SAF, alongside supporting the ICC's investigation into crimes since April 2023.