International Donors Pledge Over £1 Billion for Sudan at Berlin Conference
In a significant development, more than £1 billion (€1.15 billion) has been pledged for war-ravaged Sudan during a conference held in Berlin. This amount surpasses the funding target organisers had established to help mitigate what is widely regarded as the world's largest humanitarian crisis.
The financial commitments, announced on Wednesday, are aimed at addressing a chronic humanitarian funding shortfall in a country devastated by three years of conflict. Currently, two-thirds of Sudan's population, approximately 34 million people, require urgent assistance.
Conference Highlights and Diplomatic Tensions
German ministers had set a notional target of $1 billion (£740 million) in funding commitments from international donors. Hours after United Nations chief António Guterres called for an end to the "nightmare" in Sudan, delegates pledged a total of £1.13 billion.
Despite this financial boost, the prospect of peace remains distant, with scant progress reported on ceasefire talks. Notably, neither of Sudan's warring parties—the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the army—attended the Berlin conference.
As the conference commenced, Sudan's army-aligned foreign ministry criticised delegates for not consulting it, accusing Western countries of adopting a "colonial tutelage approach."
Protests and International Stances
Outside Germany's foreign ministry, hundreds of protesters gathered, many chanting against the United Arab Emirates and its alleged support for the RSF. Inside the conference, on the sidelines, Donald Trump's senior adviser for African affairs, Massad Boulos, stated that the United States is not taking sides in the war and that "our only concern is humanitarian."
Boulos emphasised that the US is seeking a humanitarian truce to allow aid to reach those in need, adding that any truce should lead to a permanent ceasefire. Diplomatic efforts led by the US, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE—known as the Quad—have so far failed to achieve meaningful progress.
Funding Challenges and Calls for Peace
Announcing the funding pledges, Germany's foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, noted that the commitments represent a rare positive development amid shrinking global aid budgets. He expressed gratitude to all donors, highlighting that the pledges exceed €1.3 billion.
Sudan is grappling with an alarming funding shortfall to cope with its vast humanitarian challenges. To date, only 16% of the overall £2.1 billion humanitarian needs assessment for Sudan this year has been funded.
Earlier in the conference, Guterres told international delegates that "credible allegations of the gravest international crimes" are continually emerging from the conflict. He detailed how women and girls have been terrorised, with systematic sexual violence prevailing, and families and communities devastated.
Guterres stressed that while partners must step up, "funding alone cannot substitute for peace." He called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to external interference and the flow of arms fueling the war.
International Arms Flow and Future Efforts
Egypt is among several states supporting Sudan's military, while evidence suggests the UAE is backing the RSF—a claim the UAE denies. Without naming specific countries, the UK foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, urged a concerted international effort to stop the flow of arms into Sudan.
Cooper remarked, "Countries from across the world are coming together here in Berlin to discuss the way, frankly, the international community has failed the people of Sudan."
The conference underscores the urgent need for both financial aid and diplomatic breakthroughs to address the deepening crisis in Sudan.
