Germany hosts conference to support Sudan on anniversary of the outbreak of war
The German Foreign Ministry announced on Friday its plans to host a high-level international conference next spring, specifically in April, aimed at mobilizing international support and raising emergency aid for Sudan . This diplomatic and humanitarian initiative comes at a critical time, as the situation on the ground and the living conditions of millions of Sudanese people deteriorate.
A thousand days of continuous suffering
The German announcement coincided with a painful anniversary, with a spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry stating: "Today, the world commemorates a sad date, marking 1,000 days since the outbreak of war in Sudan." She noted that the tragedy continues, with many innocent people suffering and dying daily, direct victims of hunger, thirst, forced displacement, and the crimes of sexual violence and rape documented in numerous international reports.
The spokeswoman confirmed that the planned conference will coincide with the anniversary of the outbreak of the conflict in April 2023, in an attempt to once again highlight "the world's largest humanitarian crisis," which has plunged millions of civilians into extreme poverty, killed tens of thousands, and destroyed the country's infrastructure.
Background of the conflict and its developments
The roots of the current crisis can be traced back to mid-April 2023, when violent clashes erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The conflict quickly escalated into a full-blown war that devastated the capital, Khartoum, and spread to Darfur and other states. All international calls for a ceasefire have thus far failed to end the bloody fighting between the two sides, amid mutual accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
UN reports indicate that the Rapid Support Forces, which trace their roots back to the Janjaweed militia, are accused of committing atrocities reminiscent of the Darfur genocide two decades ago, while the army faces accusations of indiscriminate bombing of residential areas.
International track to support Sudan
The upcoming German conference is not the first of its kind, but rather a continuation of previous international efforts to avert disaster. A similar conference was hosted by Paris in April 2024, followed by another in London in 2025. Despite the financial pledges made at these conferences, the needs on the ground are increasing at a faster rate than the arrival of aid, necessitating urgent and sustained intervention.
Berlin stressed that its role is not limited to the relief aspect only, as the spokeswoman added: "Germany is doing everything it can, politically and humanely, to help people on the ground and to put an end to the fighting," stressing the need to find a political solution that ends the suffering of the Sudanese people and preserves the unity of the country.
