Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Sudan

Tuesday 28 October 2025 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Charlie Maynard questioned the UK's arms exports to the UAE amid concerns about potential diversion to the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan.
  • Anneliese Dodds called for an emergency session of the UN Security Council focused on protecting civilians in Darfur.
  • David Smith inquired about measures to establish humanitarian exit routes from El Fasher for civilians in danger.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Charlie Maynard Lib Dem Witney
Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

Reports suggest that the United Arab Emirates is arming the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, a faction involved in serious human rights violations. The UK exported nearly £750 million of arms to the UAE over 2019-2023 under standard individual export licences.

Question

The hon. Gentleman questioned whether the United Arab Emirates is arming the Rapid Support Forces, one of the warring factions in Sudan responsible for crimes against humanity including murder, torture, enslavement, rape and sexual violence. Given that UK-exported arms to the UAE could breach international obligations under criteria 1f, 2, 4, 6 and 7, will the UK cease all arms shipments to the UAE until it is proven that the UAE is not arming the RSF?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Yvette Cooper)

The hon. Gentleman will know that the UK has extremely strong controls on arms exports, including to prevent any diversion. That remains important, and we will continue to take that immensely seriously. Secondly, we need all countries with influence in the region to push the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces to ensure the protection of civilians.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary did not directly address whether UK arms exports would be halted or how they were verifying UAE's compliance with international obligations.

How: Working On, Considering

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Q2 Anneliese Dodds Labour (Co-op) Oxford East
Foreign Affairs
Context

Following the fall of El Fasher, there are grave concerns about atrocities in Sudan, including sexual violence and ethnic cleansing. The UK is the penholder at the UN Security Council for both Sudan and protection of civilians.

Question

As penholder at the UN Security Council for both Sudan and the protection of civilians, will she call an emergency session of the Security Council focused on the protection of terrified civilians in Darfur given recent events? She also talked about the Quad before these events. Will she push every country in the Quad—the US, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE—to act now to prevent further massacres?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Yvette Cooper)

I agree with my right hon. Friend that Sudan, the escalating violence and the humanitarian crisis must be on the agenda for the Security Council. We are pressing for that meeting to take place as soon as possible, and to ensure that the protection of civilians is at its heart. There was already a humanitarian crisis in Sudan before the escalation, with huge numbers of people at risk of famine. I also agree on the urgent need to press all parties to cease violence and allow humanitarian aid through.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q3 Andrew Mitchell Con Sutton Coldfield
Foreign Affairs
Context

News reports indicate summary executions and ethnic cleansing taking place in El Fasher. The UK plays a pivotal role due to its previous position as the Minister for Development.

Question

Given Britain's pivotal role, will the Foreign Secretary urgently review everything we are doing, in order to prevent El Fasher from becoming another Srebrenica?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Yvette Cooper)

The right hon. Gentleman is right to raise the grave nature of this crisis and violence taking place in El Fasher. I agree that we need to put on every possible pressure through both the United Nations and directly through the Quad. We need urgent action to get a ceasefire, humanitarian aid through and protection for civilians.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q4 David Smith Lab North Northumberland
Foreign Affairs
Context

Approximately a quarter of a million civilians are trapped in the city of El Fasher following an 18-month siege. This situation is part of the world's greatest humanitarian catastrophe.

Question

What can the UK Government do with our allies to ensure that we get humanitarian exit routes out of El Fasher for those civilians?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Yvette Cooper)

I agree with my hon. Friend that getting civilian pathways out of the city to safety are urgently needed. We are urging for a ceasefire to take place. We need all sides to pull back from this escalating and incredibly dangerous violence.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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