MEPs’ concerns about the deadly fighting in Sudan over the past three weeks have mirrored those expressed several times by the EU since 15 April (see EUROPE 13175/4, 13169/42). In a debate on Tuesday 9 May in Strasbourg, calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to deliver humanitarian aid were made to prevent a major humanitarian disaster and the risk of destabilising the whole of East Africa. On the same day, the talks in Saudi Arabia that began on Sunday between the rival generals - Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, alias ‘Hemeti’ - came to a standstill.
The conflict has already left more than 750 dead and 6,000 wounded, and does not only concern Khartoum, recalled the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, alarmed by the “risk of a general war that is growing exponentially”.
On behalf of High Representative of the Union, Josep Borrell, he reiterated the condemnation of the fighting and violations of international and humanitarian law: “We continue to press on with the coordinated efforts of the international community. The aim is to achieve a sustainable ceasefire”, he said, assuring that the EU is working on building a broad coalition. He called for flexible humanitarian funding to deliver aid quickly, as soon as the security situation allows.
Željana Zovko (EPP, Croatian) denounced the involvement of foreign powers in the conflict and called for an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful resolution, which would ensure the safety of humanitarian workers.
“Negotiations are not successful. Europe must assert its role in the world. Let’s avoid any tragedy”, said Pedro Marques (S&D, Portuguese), claiming it was “time to act”.
The Irish MEP, Barry Andrews (Renew Europe,) said there was an urgent need to respond and to “do our best to restore a civilian government”. He insisted that humanitarian aid to local organisations should not be forgotten.
Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana (Greens/EFA, German) denounced “the rivalries between two former allies and their thirst for power” and stressed that “gold is the sinews of war”. Recalling that one million people are living in unacceptable conditions in this country where health infrastructures are destroyed and a quarter of the population suffers from acute malnutrition, she warned against the exodus which risks destabilising neighbouring countries.
Adam Bielan (ECR, Polish) expressed his support for the efforts of the EU and its Member States and those of the international community.
For Thierry Mariani (ID, French), “the war had been brewing for a long time and the European Parliament had not anticipated anything”. He said that peace would come through the integration of all the armed forces and that it was urgent to “strengthen the partnership with Egypt to avoid a new wave of migration”.
For Idoia Villanueva Ruiz (The Left Spanish), on the contrary, asylum should be offered to refugees from Sudan, which has been on the brink of civil war since 2021. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)