Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, met on Monday in Port Sudan with a senior British delegation headed by Vice Admiral Edward Ahlgren, the UK Ministry of Defence’s Senior Military Adviser for the Middle East and North Africa.
The delegation included British envoy Richard Crowder, the UK’s Special Representative for Sudan, and the British military attaché in Cairo.
The meeting addressed overall developments in Sudan, efforts to achieve peace, security, and stability, and reviewed bilateral relations and prospects for strengthening them in a way that serves mutual interests.
In a press statement following the meeting, Crowder affirmed the UK government’s and people’s support for the Sudanese people, stressing that Britain is mobilizing its capabilities to help Sudan achieve security and stability, restore basic services, and advance development and recovery. He expressed regret over the suffering and tragedy endured by the Sudanese people due to the ongoing war.
Crowder said: “We held important discussions with the Chairman of the Sovereign Council on the urgent need to reach a ceasefire.” He added that the delegation expressed “deep shock” at the situation in El Fasher, which he said revealed widespread brutality and mass killings. He noted discussions on the responsibility of all parties to protect civilians in accordance with the Jeddah Declaration on the Protection of Civilians.
He praised the deeply rooted historical relations between the two countries in education, culture, and economic development, highlighting the significant contributions of Sudanese communities in the UK and their active role in British public life.
Crowder stressed the need for concerted international efforts, led by the United States and partners, to end the conflict, deliver humanitarian assistance, and put an end to atrocities in El Fasher. He noted that the UK will assume the presidency of the UN Security Council next month and will co-host, with Germany, a conference in Berlin in April to support Sudan.
He reaffirmed London’s commitment to close coordination with partners in the United States, Norway, the United Nations, and the European and African Unions to ensure lasting peace and stability in Sudan.
