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Sudan
02 May 2023
Lead MP
Andrew Mitchell
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
NHSDefenceEconomyEmploymentForeign Affairs
Other Contributors: 23
At a Glance
Andrew Mitchell raised concerns about sudan in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The Minister for Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and the Caribbean made a statement to update the House on the ongoing situation in Sudan. The ceasefire extension announced by the Sudanese armed forces and Rapid Support Forces until May 3rd was acknowledged, despite continuing reports of fighting and civilian displacement. Over 2,300 people have been evacuated since April 24th, including British nationals, dependants, NHS medical staff from Sudan, and other eligible nationals. UK operations at the Wadi Saeedna airbase concluded on April 30th, with current efforts focused on Port Sudan for further evacuations. The minister highlighted the support received from international partners such as the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Cyprus. He emphasised the importance of ending violence to allow aid delivery to civilians suffering due to conflict-related shortages. The UK stands with the UN in leading the humanitarian response.
Preet Kaur Gill
Lab Co-op
Birmingham Edgbaston
Question
The shadow minister questioned the Minister's assessment of remaining British nationals and residents still in Sudan, expressing concern over their safety. She also raised issues regarding initial evacuation delays compared to other countries and the prioritization of diplomatic personnel evacuations.
Minister reply
The Minister responded by acknowledging the ongoing challenges in ensuring the safe departure of all British nationals from Sudan. He emphasised the coordination with international partners and the continuous assessment of evolving situations on the ground, while also addressing concerns about learning lessons from past crises.
Graham Brady
Con
Altrincham and Sale West
Question
The MP inquired about the current status of evacuations and the risks involved with maintaining a presence at Port Sudan. He also asked for details on international aid efforts and their coordination.
Minister reply
The Minister provided an update on ongoing evacuation operations from Port Sudan, highlighting the security situation as a concern but noted that continued assistance was crucial. He emphasised the UK’s commitment to supporting UN-led humanitarian efforts in collaboration with regional partners.
Preet Kaur Gill
Lab Co-op
Birmingham Edgbaston
Question
The shadow Development Minister thanks the minister for comments and raises questions on efficacy of evacuation, communications with citizens, speed of evacuation compared to allies, lessons learned from Afghanistan, future diplomatic presence, humanitarian spend, and the impact of illicit trade.
Minister reply
The minister acknowledges the questions raised. He states that evacuating diplomatic staff was necessary due to danger but planned for citizen evacuation simultaneously. The evacuation process is deemed successful despite communication difficulties. Lessons have been learned but differ from Afghanistan as they did not control ground there. A diplomatic presence remains at borders with Egypt and Ethiopia, and humanitarian funding flexibility exists.
Alicia Kearns
Con
Rutland and Stamford
Question
The MP thanks for the evacuation efforts and mentions concerns over RSF actions rejecting democratic transition. She asks about meaningful action to bring them back within the process and requests investigation into funding of RSF press office.
Minister reply
The minister thanks the Chair of the Select Committee for her comments and will look into the issue of malign public relations. He refers to a statement made by former Prime Minister Hamdok demanding an immediate ceasefire, reliable humanitarian corridors, and political process transition towards democracy.
Drew Hendry
SNP
Inverness Nigg Balintore
Question
Asked for details on UK assistance to humanitarian agencies and an estimate of remaining UK nationals in Sudan, expressed concern over the number of UK citizens compared to others and questioned about safe legal routes for refugees.
Minister reply
Acknowledged that over 10 humanitarian workers have been murdered. Emphasised the importance of a ceasefire for humanitarian work and stated that most UK nationals had been evacuated from Khartoum. Mentioned plans to introduce safe and legal routes in due course.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
Asked if the Wagner Group’s links with the Rapid Support Forces played a role in the uprising, and whether humanitarian aid should focus on surrounding countries.
Minister reply
Agreed that focusing humanitarian aid on surrounding countries is correct but had no evidence linking Russia/Wagner to the crisis.
Anna McMorrin
Lab
Cardiff North
Question
Asked for assistance in evacuating a constituent's family members from Sudan, including a heavily pregnant woman and an elderly man.
Minister reply
Agreed to ensure renewed efforts with the Foreign Office on specific cases but reiterated that an international ceasefire is essential.
Question
Asked for updates on UN and neighbouring states’ actions regarding refugees, and about the scale of the problem.
Minister reply
Noted that without a ceasefire, the refugee situation will be severe. Mentioned that Martin Griffiths is working in the region to address issues.
Question
Asked if there was a need to review policy on evacuating British residents with legal leave to remain after difficulties in Afghanistan and during the pandemic.
Minister reply
Stated that decisions are primarily within the Home Office's purview, but mentioned successful evacuation of Sudanese NHS personnel as per Prime Minister’s decision.
Vicky Ford
Con
Chelmsford
Question
Asked about UK efforts to encourage more humanitarian aid for border regions where refugees are heading.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the importance and highlighted that IGAD and AU called for a ceasefire, co-ordinated political process, and emphasised the humanitarian crisis.
Hilary Benn
Lab
Leeds South
Question
Asked about reports of an agreed seven-day ceasefire starting on Thursday from South Sudan's Foreign Ministry.
Minister reply
Welcomed efforts by South Sudan’s President to effect a ceasefire and noted that the African Union called for these actions.
Bob Stewart
Con
Beckenham
Question
Emphasised the strategic importance of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus for operations in the eastern Mediterranean.
Minister reply
Agreed on the importance of RAF Akrotiri and sovereign base areas in Cyprus.
Nia Griffith
Lab
Llanelli
Question
Asked about delays in evacuating NHS workers from Sudan and called for a review of decision-making processes.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the importance of those evacuated to the UK and welcomed their presence.
Nickie Aiken
Con
City of Westminster
Question
I am aware of a number of Westminster residents who are still stuck in Sudan, scattered across the country, having not been able to get to Khartoum to secure passage on one of the flights out. Can my right hon. Friend advise on what further steps the Foreign Office can take to evacuate British nationals and UK work permit holders who are still stuck in Sudan and want to leave?
Minister reply
As we speak, British officials are still operating in Port Sudan, helping British citizens to leave. It is very important that the full details of any citizens in Westminster whom my hon. Friend knows about are given to the Foreign Office, and we will give them all the advice we can.
Imran Hussain
Lab
Bradford East
Question
Of course, the Minister is right: focus must remain on ending the horrific violence that continues to see the death of innocent men, women and children, and we must continue to play a leading role in securing international humanitarian aid in one of the poorest countries in the world. Like my right hon. Friend the Member for Warley (John Spellar), many of the cases that I am dealing with involve the immediate family of constituents who hold a valid visa for entry to and residence in the UK and who normally reside in the UK but have not been allocated space on a UK evacuation flight. I have a great deal of respect for the Minister, but he has remained largely silent on that point. What arrangements are in place to allow the safe passage of those residents from Sudan back to the UK, including any agreements with surrounding countries for safe routes of travel back to the UK?
Minister reply
We continue to support people at the border of Sudan with Egypt and also at the border of Sudan with Ethiopia. I have outlined to the House the steps we are taking through Port Sudan. I am not aware of any reason why people would not have been taken if, as the hon. Gentleman says, they were able to get an evacuation point and all their documents were in order, but if he would like to bring any such case to my attention, I will of course look into it straightaway.
James Sunderland
Lab
Workington
Question
I thank and pay tribute to the FCDO and the Ministry of Defence for their successful and expeditious non-combatant evacuation operation from Sudan. As any student of military history will know, no responsible Government can write a blank cheque for the evacuation of civilians from a high-threat environment, particularly somewhere as dangerous as Khartoum, sadly. Will the Minister confirm that a full threat assessment will be conducted before the decision is taken to put British forces back into Khartoum?
Minister reply
There are no such plans, but I can assure my hon. Friend and the House that we are still alert to any help that may be required by British citizens in Sudan, and we will provide all possible support that we are physically able to provide.
Layla Moran
LD
Oxford West and Abingdon
Question
May I beg the Minister for help with two constituency cases? One is an 11-month-old boy whose father is a constituent of mine and whose mother is Sudanese. Understandably, they do not want to travel without being guaranteed that they will all get on that flight together, so they have not. Another is a two-year-old child whose mother is British and whose father is Sudanese. They all want to get visas so that they can travel together. Does he understand that separation is not an option for them and that, without the Home Office in particular applying some cool-headed common sense, which we have shown we can do with Ukraine, we risk failing these very small children who should be and are citizens of this country?
Minister reply
I understand the hon. Lady’s eloquent plea. I have to say to her that we are restricted by the art of the possible. If those cases have not been brought to the attention of the Foreign Office, I hope that she will do that immediately, and we will do everything we can.
Mary Robinson
Con
Cheadle
Question
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for the statement. As he says, though, the situation on the ground remains extremely dangerous. I have been contacted by my constituent Dr Hanaa Yahya, who is understandably extremely concerned that her brother—a UK passport holder—and her elderly mother are still stuck in Sudan, her mother having been denied evacuation.
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for her comments. I know that she has passed details about these cases to my officials in the past hour, and we will of course look into them.
Lilian Greenwood
Lab
Nottingham South
Question
Afrah Adam Ahimir Essa, the wife of my constituent Abdeen Mohammed, was issued with her family reunion visa by the Home Office on 2 March, but she has not been able to leave Sudan. I fully understand the importance of a ceasefire, but what advice and assistance can the Minister offer my constituent and his wife at what must be an incredibly frightening time?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady, I think, raised this case during oral questions earlier.
Jeremy Corbyn
Ind
Islington North
Question
I put on record my thanks to all those who helped so much with the humanitarian evacuation from Sudan, because they have obviously performed the best they could, although there are still issues to be resolved. I hear what the Minister says about a ceasefire, and obviously a ceasefire would be very welcome—the longer the ceasefire, the better—but a ceasefire is not peace, and it is not a permanent situation. Is the Minister confident that the intervention of the African Union and the UN will actually address all the underlying issues in Sudan that have brought about this polarised military conflict that has been so devastating for so many desperately poor people, and that we will hopefully see a long-term peace and a completely democratic and civilian Government?
Minister reply
I thank the right hon. Gentleman, the former Leader of the Opposition, for what he has said. He is right that there has been a formidable operation: at 5 o’clock this morning, 2,187 people had been evacuated by the RAF from Wadi Saeedna and 154 from Port Sudan. That total of 2,341 people arrived in Larnaca, and 1,858 are confirmed as back in the UK.
Paula Barker
Lab
Liverpool Wavertree
Question
There have been many reports of rape and sexual violence during the conflict in Sudan. Can the Minister advise the House on what steps the Government are taking to enable proper support for survivors and evidence-gathering by specialists to make accountability possible?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is right to raise these appalling offences that are committed against women. Obviously we have only limited ability to move the dial at this particular point in Khartoum and Sudan, but I assure her that this Government will never accept a culture of impunity in offences perpetrated against women.
Fleur Anderson
Lab
Putney
Question
The Rapid Support Forces in Sudan were formed out of the Janjaweed, the militia responsible for many of the atrocities in the 2003 Darfur genocide. As the RSF has many of the same leaders as the Janjaweed, there is a real risk of atrocity crimes, including sexual violence. Does the FCDO have an atrocity and genocide prevention strategy for Sudan, and what steps are being taken to monitor and prevent potential atrocity crimes?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is right to chart the nature of the RSF, which grew from the Janjaweed, which was active in Darfur. I first visited Darfur in 2006 and again in 2007. As she rightly said, that was a genocide, in the words of President Bush, perpetrated by the Janjaweed and other militias. All I can say is to reiterate the point that I made earlier: we will do everything we can to ensure that there is no impunity for these dreadful crimes.
Shadow Comment
Preet Kaur Gill
Shadow Comment
The Labour shadow minister thanked the Minister for his statement and acknowledged the successful evacuation of British nationals from Sudan. However, concerns were raised about remaining UK residents in Sudan and the effectiveness of initial evacuation efforts compared to those of allied nations. The speaker questioned the prioritization of personnel evacuations and asked if lessons learned from previous crises had been applied. She called for more information on support for Sudanese people affected by the conflict, including aid programmes and security risks at Port Sudan. Concerns were also raised about illicit trade sustaining military power in Sudan and the impact of British foreign policy on regional stability.
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