Germany is hosting an international conference on Wednesday to raise funds for people affected by the war in Sudan. The day also marks the third anniversary of fighting between the Sudanese military under Abdel-Fattah Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he was hopeful the conference could secure more than $1 billion (around €850 million). “This major humanitarian crisis in Africa must not be forgotten,” he told Deutschlandfunk.
German Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan said Germany would free up another €20 million in addition to the €155.4 million it earmarked for Sudan late last year. Wadephul said that, despite tight budgets, Berlin must attempt to fill funding shortfalls left by large cuts to US foreign aid under the Trump administration. He added he had spoken with Economy Minister Lars Klingbeil, saying aid was not merely a “moral-ethical obligation” but a way to prevent displacement and suffering.
The UK and Norway announced additional pledges at the conference. British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper pledged an extra £146 million (about €168 million, $198 million), while Norway’s Espen Barth Eide pledged €42 million. Cooper urged an international effort to stem the flow of weapons into Sudan and to press for an urgent ceasefire. “Countries from across the world are coming together here in Berlin to discuss the way, frankly, the international community has failed the people of Sudan,” she said, calling for pressure on the warring parties to agree to a ceasefire.
The conflict, now entering its fourth year, continues to take a heavy toll. After three years of war:
– At least 59,000 people have been killed, according to ACLED, though the true figure may be higher.
– Around 4,300 of the dead are believed to be children, per UNICEF.
– Some 19 million people face acute hunger, according to the World Food Programme.
– About 9 million people are internally displaced and another 4.5 million have fled to neighboring countries.
– Around 217 health facilities have been attacked in verified incidents, the WHO says.
The war followed the 2019 ouster of longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir. The hoped-for transition was derailed by a power struggle between Burhan and Dagalo. The country is now split, with the military controlling much of the north, east and central regions—including Red Sea ports and oil refineries—and the RSF controlling Darfur and parts of Kordofan in the south and west.
The conflict has an international dimension due to interest in Sudan’s oil and gold. The military has received support from Egypt, and mounting evidence points to backing for the RSF from the United Arab Emirates, which denies involvement. Millions have been caught in widespread violence, including rampant sexual violence; in Darfur the RSF has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“This grim and chastening anniversary marks another year when the world has failed to meet the test of Sudan,” said UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher.
Edited by: Rana Taha