Berlin Conference on Sudan War: Peace Hopes Dim as Crisis Deepens

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will urge Sudan's warring parties to "cease bloodshed" during a major conference in Berlin today. However, analysts believe the meeting is unlikely to deliver a significant step towards peace, highlighting the persistent challenges in resolving the conflict.

The talks in Berlin, held on the third anniversary of Sudan's ruinous war, are expected to help address a catastrophic funding shortfall that is compounding the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The international community has provided just 16% of the humanitarian funding needed for Sudan this year, as the crisis in Iran continues to dominate diplomatic channels, raising questions about the global prioritization of resources.

Britain is among the countries attending the conference that are set to announce new funding for Sudan. Cooper will unveil a doubling of UK aid to £15 million for Sudanese frontline responders such as the grassroots volunteer network known as Emergency Response Rooms, a move that critics argue is insufficient given the scale of the crisis.

With the war now entering its fourth year and no sign of hostilities abating between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army, latest assessments indicate more than 19 million people face acute hunger as a result of the fighting, while some areas are at risk of famine. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) found "emergency" levels of hunger across much of North Kordofan, West Kordofan, South Kordofan, and North Darfur, with levels in some communities remaining "catastrophic".

Despite the scale of suffering, Cooper allegedly hopes that an end to the fighting is achievable. However, political momentum appears to have stalled, with sources saying talks between the so-called Quad nations, headed by the US regime along with Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which back the army, and the UAE regime, the RSF's principal patron, have failed to yield "meaningful progress". This underscores the deep-seated geopolitical rivalries complicating peace efforts.

In the absence of any diplomatic breakthrough, the expert consensus is that Sudan's war will worsen, particularly in the Kordofan region, which is at the centre of the fighting. Paul Byars, Sudan director of the Danish Refugee Council, stated: "I think there'll be a worsening of the conflict in the Kordofan. Neither side will give up, which means they'll keep taking and retaking territory."

Technology is also likely to intensify bloodshed, with the increasing use of drones meaning that the traditional halt in fighting during Sudan's imminent rainy season is less likely. On Tuesday, the UN said nearly 700 civilians have been reported killed in drone strikes in Sudan since January, highlighting the evolving nature of the conflict and its devastating impact on civilians.

Source: www.theguardian.com