Sudan is already in its third year of conflict, with thousands killed and millions displaced, including women and children.
A press statement from the ministry’s official Facebook page stated that minister Semaya, in his two-day trip, would attend the London Conference on Sudan.
“The Honorable Ambassador Monday Semaya K. Kumba, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, departed to London to attend the London Conference on Sudan from 14- 15 April 2025,” reads the statement.
The ministry reports that officials from regional and international organizations, as well as foreign ministers from other nations, will attend the meeting.
“The conference will be attended by Ministers of Foreign Affairs from various countries and representatives from regional and International Organizations,” it added.
Based on the report, the conference seeks to rally international support for Sudan, it comes against the backdrop of recently announced deepening aid cuts.
UK foreign aid has dropped to just 0.3 per cent of gross national income, the lowest in 25 years, while freezes in US aid from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have also severely impacted Sudan.
Responding to questions about how the UK will engage in Sudan’s post-conflict recovery, given the absence of Sudanese government representatives at the conference, UK Minister for International Development, Baroness Chapman, clarifies: “There is still horrendous conflict on the ground today. People are suffering and dying as a result.”
She added, “This conference is not about including the parties from Sudan because we believe it would not take us any further at this stage. We’re not prepared to just stand by and wait. The civilians in Sudan are paying the price, and we need to use our diplomatic leverage to help move things forward.”
A key concern for Sudanese both within Sudan and in the diaspora is the role of international actors, particularly the United Arab Emirates, given its involvement in the region and its ongoing genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
However, on April 6, Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday it had informed its British counterpart of Khartoum’s objection to a planned conference in London, criticizing the inclusion of countries it considers parties to the conflict and calling for a review of UK policy.
A statement from the Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s office said that Minister Ali Youssif sent a written message to his British counterpart, David Lammy.
The message conveyed Sudan’s objection to the conference being held without an invitation to the government while extending invitations to “countries considered parties to the war against the country,” according to the statement.
The Sudanese statement noted that while the British Foreign Office stated the conference participants support peace, the invitees include the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Chad, and Kenya – countries allegedly implicated in the conflict and supporting the paramilitary group.
“Many in Sudan are now asking: How many more atrocities and massacres must the Rapid Support Forces commit against Sudanese people before Britain recognizes it as a terrorist group?” the minister was quoted as adding in the message.
