2026-02-05

56. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Government's position regarding the situation in Sudan, in particular the need to ensure access to appropriate aid; her position regarding the continuing concerning flow of weapons into the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8758/26]

The Minister of State and I have spoken on a number of occasions in relation to the terrible situation in Sudan, which has seen tens if not hundreds of thousands of people killed, or certainly hundreds of thousands of people killed, in the past number of years. There has been the slaughter in El-Fasher. The conflict carries on unabated and there has been inadequate attention from the international community and inadequate pressure. There are steps Ireland as well as the international community can take. First, could the Minister give me an outline of the current position and actions? Actions must be taken by the Government on raising this issue and in continuing pressure in regard to this appalling conflict.

I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire for consistently raising this issue. He is dead right; there is a distinct lack of attention on this around the world. I would like to think it is an exception here in Ireland. The Deputy is a part of that and I am very grateful for it. Last month, the conflict in Sudan reached its 1,000th day. It is continuing to have a devastating impact on the Sudanese people, particularly women and children. The escalating violence in the Kordofan states is deeply worrying and underlines the need to ensure Sudan remains firmly on the international agenda. Ireland has been a consistent advocate since the beginning of the conflict, including in the EU and UN, and as a principled and active donor. We remain resolute in our commitment to the Sudanese people. It is vital to address the urgent humanitarian crisis, ensure the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers and explore all avenues towards a credible and inclusive Sudanese-led political transition. The critical issue of humanitarian access and the need to remove bureaucratic impediments to aid are at the heart of our diplomatic engagement. Ireland's response also recognises the impact of the crisis on neighbouring countries, particularly in welcoming refugees. As the Deputy is aware, last year, we provided €14.3 million in humanitarian assistance to support the people most in need in Sudan and those displaced in neighbouring countries. We are committed to further increasing our funding and our focus on Sudan this year. Last week, officials from my Department visited Adré on the Chadian-Sudanese border to visit refugee camps there and to gain a better understanding of the complexity of the situation; indeed, I hope to do a similar trip this calendar year. This will help to shape our ongoing humanitarian response. The Government will also continue to advocate for increased engagement on Sudan when Ireland assumes the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of this year. It is essential that external engagement in the conflict ends. Specific allegations of violations of the UN embargo and EU sanctions are pursued, as the Deputy is aware, through UN and EU channels. All parties must comply fully with their obligations and refrain from any actions that prolong the conflict and fuel further violence.

I welcome the Minister of State's intention to visit. I am glad the Department officials have visited those refugees. The humanitarian situation on the ground could potentially escalate even further. Even if the UN reaches its appeal for €2.9 billion, that will only reach 20 million of the 33 million people needing humanitarian assistance. That is the scale of the humanitarian crisis, of hunger and of need, that is there. This is all escalating alongside a very significant conflict and slaughter, in many instances that is being encouraged by external actors, unfortunately. I have two points on that and I have raised this with the Minister of State before. The major actor external actor, although not the only one, on the RSF side is the United Arab Emirates and I asked the Minister of State to raise his concerns directly on behalf of the Irish Government. Has he done that? The other element is the UN arms embargo. I understand it only applies to Darfur and not to the Kordofan and neighbouring regions where the conflict has very much spilled into.

On the humanitarian aspect, in terms of our partners, it is really important to stress the role of UNOCHA and the UN population fund. Ireland will continue to provide a commitment to all UN appeals because the humanitarian situation is grave. There is famine in Sudan, one of two man-made famines in the world at the moment, and it can be reversed through a co-ordinated humanitarian response and action. On raising this matter, we do so on a UN and an EU basis. I have met four Ministers from the UAE in the past six months and have raised it on two occasions with the relevant Minister. With the other two, it was not specifically relevant to their brief. I am due to meet the UAE ambassador in my constituency next Thursday and this will be a subject matter. We maintain regular discussion and contact to make sure our opinion, views and concern get across. On the embargo, I am more than happy to take that on to the next level and investigate that with the Deputy as appropriate.

That would certainly be one of the asks. There are two layers to it. Obviously, the arms embargo is not fully effective by any means as things stand. We must always have hope but it is difficult not to be pessimistic when both actors in the conflict feel they can win and, therefore, the prospects for peace in that context are constrained. Dialogue needs to be at the centre of what the Government and the international community are calling for. There will be opportunities. We had a very interesting and harrowing hearing in the foreign affairs committee recently with experts and some aid organisations. The point was made that until this becomes a priority for either Europe or the United States this is unlikely to see the pressure that is required. In engagements at whatever level in the next couple of weeks with the US Administration, whether with the State Department or whatever, this should be on the agenda. On that technical point, as a principle, it is important that if the conflict is across the whole country, then particularly in places like Kordofan, the arms embargo needs to apply there too.

I see no issue with that technical point. There are avenues to pursue that. The embargo in place is far from perfect on I think we can both agree but Ireland does believe in it. On keeping it on the agenda, at every Foreign Affairs Council and at every UN meeting I have attended, I have raised this. It is one of the key pillars of Irish interest - Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan – that is raised consistently in all international arenas and is met with real funding and belief among the people in regard to humanitarian support. The Presidency of the Council of the European Union does give us a clear opportunity in chairing those meetings, co-chairing Foreign Affairs Council meetings with the High Representative and in chairing development formations of the Foreign Affairs Council to ensure this is on the agenda. We will consistently put this at the top of the agenda, namely the need for a real humanitarian surge into the region and a real plan to abolish famine in Sudan and make sure the embargo sticks.