Mr. Michael Gaffey:

The Deputy's final comment is true. The longer a conflict like this goes on, the less it becomes just one side versus another. Certain regions get dominated by other armed groups. There are tribal breakaways. It becomes a much more complex conflict. The history of Sudan is incredibly complex. It is not a simple country at all. As with everything in Africa, the post-colonial divisions of Africa, combined with underdevelopment, including across the Horn of Africa, with every country being its own context, has really ensured that stability has been hard to establish since decolonisation. It appears that the two sides are not so much at a stalemate but that no one side is going to have a decisive victory as matters stand. There was renewed serious fighting Khartoum in recent months but it seems to be at something of a stalemate. By the latest accounts, the city of Khartoum has been devastated by this conflict.

There is no option but to continue to work, at least as a first step, for a ceasefire, working with African leaders and the African Union as much as possible. There are signs of greater engagement but it is a long process. That is why, when the Tánaiste was in the Horn of Africa, he had quite lengthy discussions on Sudan with President Ruto of Kenya and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia. There is much to be done there. There is no option but to work for a truce or ceasefire. To wait for victory would only lead to further suffering for the people.

The Deputy mentioned the numbers killed. Everyone believes it has been significantly higher than 20,000, but the numbers are not being counted right across the country and must be higher than that. Even the number affected by hunger, at 25 million, is an estimate. The process for the declaration of famine is quite a complex technical one. The reality of famine and acute hunger in people does not depend on a declaration. It is a real catastrophe. Many observers fear that this could become one of the great humanitarian catastrophes of our era. This conflict, which started as a fight for power, is devastating a country that is really important for the stability of the continent. There is every reason for the international community to be more involved. The EU is seeing that. The United States has been involved. Its efforts at brokering peace talks and a ceasefire have not been successful to date. Without going into the details, it is clear that we as the European Union and other friendly countries need to put pressure on other countries across the region not to engage in a way that is fuelling the conflict because of certain economic or other interests.

It does not take from the seriousness of other conflicts around the world to highlight the situation in Sudan. It is also important to note that the situation in Sudan has implications and will have further implications for countries right across Africa and which are in crisis. These crises play against each other so there is every reason for the European Union to step up its efforts. I would definitely pay tribute to the EU special representative on Africa, Annette Weber. An official from the Department of Foreign Affairs is working in her office to help with her work.