Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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86. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the situation in Sudan, and the Government's position on same, in particular the need to ensure access to aid in El Fasher, and the flow of weapons to the conflict. [57183/25]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Baineann an chéad cheist leis an tSúdáin, that is, the humanitarian situation in Sudan which has been going on for two years now. There are many millions of people displaced and many millions facing severe malnutrition, even famine, particularly in the city of El Fasher in Darfur. This has been laid siege to by the RSF armed group and the Janjaweed. We discussed this in the past, but I am asking today specifically about the situation in El Fasher and the concerns that exist about the humanitarian situation there.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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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.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister of State is likely aware that in the English-speaking world, one of the most prominent journalists drawing attention to this situation is Declan Walsh, a journalist from The New York Times. Mr. Walsh, an Irishman who has written extensively on this conflict, wrote a piece at the start of the month describing the situation in El Fasher. He interviewed a gentleman, Dr. Omar Selik, who cried during the interview as he described "how a pregnant woman had bled to death in his care for want of simple medicines". The article explained that Dr. Selik's lunch consisted of "a plate of lumpy brown mush, animal fodder normally fed to camels and cows." This was the situation. Dr. Selik was killed several days later during an attack on a mosque by the RSF which killed 75 people. The situation in that part of Darfur and in Darfur generally is very severe.

I understand there have been negotiations involving President Donald Trump's envoy to Africa, Mr. Boulos, for increased access of aid to El Fasher and the surrounding area. Is the Irish Government aware of whether there has been any progress on that or if there is any relief regarding what was effectively a complete blockage on aid into that area?

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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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.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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I appreciate the Minister of State's comments and agree with him. It is an extraordinarily severe humanitarian situation. People are facing starvation and dying for lack of food and medicine, while the conflict carries on unabated. This is being exacerbated by the flow of weapons. It has been alleged that certain countries are continuing to supply a significant amount of weapons both to the Sudanese Government and to the RSF. The Irish Government is likely aware of some of these reports. Some of the countries in question deny they are supplying arms but they are coming from somewhere; that is for sure. Has the Irish Government directly raised with the governments of the countries in question its concerns regarding the continued flow of weapons to the area, which continues to exacerbate what is an appalling conflict that is causing enormous human suffering?

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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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.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Have we raised it directly with the governments in question?

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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We have to raise it through the UN multilateral forums and all appropriate forums.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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That would be appropriate.