I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire for this pertinent question. The Government remains deeply concerned by the devastating conflict in Sudan, which has led to the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. More than 150,000 people have been killed and some 12 million people have been forcibly displaced. The conflict continues to have a catastrophic impact on civilians. Despite reports of better access in some areas in recent months, an already dire humanitarian situation is worsening due to large-scale displacement, with millions continuing to face acute hunger and famine. Of particular concern is the devastating impact the war continues to have on women and girls. As alluded to by the Deputy, the situation in El Fasher where the Rapid Support Forces group, known as the RSF, has been laying siege to the city for over 500 days is particularly alarming. Ireland has consistently emphasised the need to maintain humanitarian access. Both parties to the conflict are responsible for obstructing aid and conducting attacks on aid convoys, resulting in untold suffering for the civilian population. As Minister of State with responsibility for international development and the diaspora, I signed a joint statement by 30 countries condemning an attack on a convoy in El Fasher in June, as well as the ongoing attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers across Sudan. While representing Ireland at the United Nations General Assembly, I signed an Australian-led declaration for the protection of humanitarian workers. More generally, Ireland continues to provide substantial humanitarian assistance. We recently announced a further package of €3 million in humanitarian assistance. This brings our commitment this year to €14.3 million to support communities in Sudan and those displaced in neighbouring countries. We are gravely concerned by reports that arms continue to reach parties to the conflict, despite existing UN and EU embargoes and sanctions. Along with our EU and other like-minded partners, we have called on all external actors directly or indirectly supplying arms and funds to the parties to cease their support immediately. Progress towards the resolution of the conflict will require significant political will from the warring parties and the international community in order to find a peaceful way forward. Ireland stands ready to lend its support to these efforts.

Sentiment score: -0.09

To be frank, the two main parties to this conflict - the Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF, and the RSF - show absolutely no signs of willingness to negotiate a ceasefire, let alone a peace agreement. The conflict is becoming increasingly internationalised with external actors involved, refugee displacement and spillover risks, including in neighbouring Chad and South Sudan. Since the beginning of 2025, the SAF has made significant military gains and ousted the RSF from Khartoum. The RSF holds most of Darfur and has been laying siege, as the Deputy said, to El Fasher, the last stronghold, for over 500 days. Frankly, there has been very limited humanitarian access to El Fasher. The conditions described and borne witness to by Declan Walsh are as bad as can be imagined. I do not in any way underestimate this. It is the worst humanitarian disaster happening in the world today. The outlook is considerably bleak as it stands. From an Irish point of view, we will of course continue to fund and work every avenue possible to bring peace to the area, but also to increase and add volume to humanitarian aid and, crucially, access.

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Ireland is gravely concerned by reports that arms continue to reach parties to conflict in Sudan despite existing UN and EU embargoes and sanctions. Specific allegations of embargo and sanction violations are primarily pursued through the appropriate multilateral forums, including the UN Security Council, the European Union and the relevant UN sanction committees. Through these channels, Ireland continues to call on all parties to comply fully with their obligations and to refrain from any action that could fuel further violence. Ireland initially had discussions on EU sanctions in 2023 which led to the establishment and implementation of EU sanctions targeting both parties to the conflict and, crucially, their backers. At the May 2025 meeting of the EU-Gulf Co-operation Council political committee, Ireland spoke on behalf of the EU and stressed the need to use every influence to prevent external actors providing arms to combatants and to unite in favour of peace. This is a conflict and a situation which requires far more attention. I am particularly grateful to the Deputy for raising it in this forum and hopefully we can continue to push on.

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We have to raise it through the UN multilateral forums and all appropriate forums.

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