Sudan’s military leader, Abdel Fattah al Burhan, has met with British Special Envoy Richard Crowder as diplomatic efforts continue to find a way out of the country’s devastating civil war.
The meeting, held on Saturday, focused on efforts to end the conflict, reduce the suffering of civilians and address growing concerns over human rights abuses and the worsening humanitarian situation.
According to a statement from Sudan’s Sovereign Council, Crowder said Britain remained committed to supporting a Sudanese led and Sudanese owned dialogue aimed at ending the crisis.
He called for an open and inclusive political process that would give Sudanese people, both inside the country and abroad, a meaningful role in determining the country’s future.
The British envoy also welcomed efforts by Sudanese political and civil society groups to contribute to the search for peace. He praised government assurances that participants in planned consultations would be protected from prosecution.
A transitional committee has been established to consult political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders as part of preparations for future peace discussions.
The meeting also came against the backdrop of a recent report by a United Nations Human Rights Council fact finding mission, which documented widespread abuses during the conflict and raised concerns over foreign involvement in the fighting.
The report alleged that entities based in the United Arab Emirates had been involved in recruiting Colombian mercenaries to fight alongside the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, RSF. The issue is expected to remain part of discussions at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Britain has also proposed a draft resolution seeking to extend the mandate of the UN fact finding mission beyond its October expiry date. Sudan’s military led government has opposed the proposal, arguing that existing UN human rights bodies operating in the country are sufficient.
Crowder warned that the continued destruction of infrastructure and the displacement of millions of people into neighbouring countries had deepened what he described as one of the world’s most serious humanitarian crises.
He also indicated that Sudan’s worsening situation was likely to receive significant attention during the forthcoming UN General Assembly meetings in New York.
Famine threat grows in West Kordofan
While diplomatic efforts continue, the humanitarian situation in parts of Sudan is becoming increasingly desperate.
Aid volunteers have warned that famine is threatening six localities in West Kordofan, where severe drought, failed harvests and soaring food prices have left communities struggling to survive.
The affected areas are largely under RSF control, and residents have reported widespread looting, destruction of livelihoods and worsening agricultural conditions following poor rainfall.
Thousands of civilians have also fled towards neighbouring North Kordofan following allegations of abuses by RSF fighters.
The Dar Hamar Emergency Room, a volunteer network providing frontline assistance, warned of a looming humanitarian disaster across the northern belt of West Kordofan. It identified Wad Banda, El Nuhud, Ghebeish, Abu Zabad, Al Odaiya and Al Khiwai as among the areas facing the greatest danger.
The group said drought had destroyed crops across the region, leaving many families without sufficient food or reliable sources of income. It also accused RSF fighters of taking residents’ remaining assets and savings, further weakening communities already facing severe hardship.
Food prices have risen sharply as supplies become increasingly scarce. A sack of sorghum, one of the area’s main staple foods, now costs around 10 million Sudanese pounds, equivalent to approximately $1,300.
Restrictions on movement have made the situation even worse. The emergency group said commercial trucks carrying food from North Kordofan had been prevented from reaching affected communities, creating further shortages and pushing prices higher.
Hunger and disease are now spreading, with children and elderly people among those most affected.
The volunteers said deaths had already been recorded as the crisis deepens, while international humanitarian assistance remains almost completely absent.
The developments highlight the scale of Sudan’s crisis, where attempts to find a political solution are taking place alongside growing hunger, mass displacement and continuing reports of abuses against civilians.
