Since the outbreak of conflict, the UAE has provided over US$600 million in humanitarian aid to Sudan and neighboring countries, working in coordination with UN partners to deliver impartial assistance
Lana Nusseibeh, UAE Assistant Minister for Political Affairs, led the UAE delegation at the high-level Conference for Sudan held in London, co-hosted by the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the African Union (AU), and the European Union (EU). The international gathering brought together foreign ministers and senior representatives from over 20 countries and organizations to address the escalating humanitarian and political crisis in Sudan.
In her remarks, Nusseibeh highlighted the devastating toll of the ongoing conflict on the Sudanese people, citing widespread atrocities, systematic sexual violence, the reported use of chemical weapons, and the obstruction and weaponisation of humanitarian aid. She condemned these violations unequivocally and stressed the need for accountability, especially in relation to attacks on civilians in Darfur and the brutal assaults on the Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps near El Fasher.
Calling for the establishment of a mechanism to monitor arms flows into Sudan, Nusseibeh urged the international community to take “concrete and collective action to build a peaceful, unified, and hopeful future for the country.”
She emphasized the importance of a viable political roadmap toward a civilian-led government. “The UAE is unequivocal: neither the SAF nor the RSF represents the people of Sudan… Only a Sudanese-led, civilian-driven process rooted in independent leadership can deliver meaningful change,” she said.
Nusseibeh also stressed that any effective response must consider the regional dimensions of the conflict, warning that Sudan must not become a safe haven for extremism, terrorism, or threats to maritime security. She called for new international mechanisms capable of addressing security challenges and overcoming aid blockades.
Criticizing the weaponisation of food aid, she stated, “The arbitrary assertion of sovereignty must never be used to justify starvation or shield those who obstruct humanitarian access.”
She further underlined the need to combat extremism, hate speech, and discrimination, and highlighted the vital role of Sudanese women in the political process. “They inspired the 2018 transition to civilian rule and continue to lead through Emergency Response Rooms,” she noted.
Concluding her address, Nusseibeh called for a united and principled international effort. “The absence of a coherent and united international effort is increasingly untenable… This moment demands principled leadership and sustained international resolve.”
Since the outbreak of conflict, the UAE has provided over US$600 million in humanitarian aid to Sudan and neighboring countries, working in coordination with UN partners to deliver impartial assistance.
During the visit, Nusseibeh also held bilateral meetings with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, US Deputy Assistant Secretary Peter Lord, EU Special Representative Annett Weber, Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric.
The UAE delegation included Mansour Belhoul, UAE Ambassador to the UK, and Maha Yaqoot Harqoos, Head of South Africa Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
