Saudi and UK foreign ministers discuss violence in Sudan
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Hashim Sheikh
- . April 22, 2023
- . Update: April 22, 2023 7:22 pm
Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah bin Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and James Cleverly, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom held a telephone conversation on Friday to discuss the latest course of events in Sudan.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a phone call from James Cleverly. The two ministers discussed the importance of ending the military escalation between the two conflicting parties in Sudan. The two sides highlighted the importance of providing the necessary protection for Sudanese civilians in order to guarantee the security of the people.
According to the Kingdom’s ministry, Saudi and UK foreign ministers also reviewed the strong relations between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. They agreed to boost their relations and cooperate in various fields.
The conflict in Sudan
Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands of people have been wounded in Sudan since fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke out on April 15. The fight has turned deadly, sparking international alarm. The fighting has been ongoing between the two groups for control of the country.
Read | Why Is Sudan Fighting? Why Is Sudan At The Brink Of Civil War Again?
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres talked to Abdel-Fattah Burhan, a Sudanese army general who is the de facto ruler of Sudan, and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the leader of Rapid Support Forces about the situation in Sudan. Guterres urged them to end violence and return to dialogue.
The International Committee of the Red Cross warned that there can be an increase in the number of civilian casualties if the fighting does not end soon.
Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces together toppled a civilian government in an October 2021 coup. Both sides have accused each other of the recent violence.
