The European Union and Sudan

The EU actively supports Sudanese and international efforts to achieve a peaceful, stable and prosperous Sudan. 

A civil war began on 15 April 2023 between two rival factions of the military government of Sudan. The conflict involves the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Several armed groups have also taken part in the belligerence by both sides. 

As the conflict persists across much of Sudan, the humanitarian cost of the war is increasing. Nearly 13 million people have been displaced, including 8.6 million people within Sudan and more than 2 million fled in the neighbour countries. As a result, Sudan became the largest displacement crisis in the world. The Sudan’s brutal war pushed more children towards the brink of starvation.  The Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan requested 4.2 billion US dollars and has just 25 % funded. Civilians continue to bear the brunt of violence and human rights violations. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable, facing heightened risks of conflict-related and gender based sexual violence.  Nearly two thirds of Sudan’s population is in dire need of humanitarian assistance, including 16 million children.  Meanwhile, disease outbreaks are compounding the crisis, alongside worsening climate shocks. 

The EU pursues its objectives in Sudan with diplomatic, development cooperation and humanitarian means and instruments:

• Dialogue: The EU continues to meet with the Sudanese authorities, political organizations, women, youth groups, civil society, private sector and community leaders to understand the root causes of the conflict in Sudan and try to bridge the disagreements between all the active groups to reach a peaceful and political settlement that will unite all the Sudanese.  The EU and its Member states have hosted a number of conferences to pave the road to a comprehensive Sudanese Dialogue.  The EU believes the primary responsibility for ending the conflict, restoring peace and reconstruction lies with an inclusive and transparent Sudanese led dialogue and solutions that are regionally and internationally supported. 

• Coordination: The EU plays an important role in coordinating the different regional and international actors to consolidate the overlapping initiatives, mediations into a one platform that will bring international momentum and support.  The EU continues to coordinate with the African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), United Nations (UN), League of Arab States (LAS) as well as the relevant and interested countries in the region and beyond. 

• Speak out: The EU have issued more than 19 statements since the war broke out to continue to putting spotlight on, and draw international attention to the crisis in Sudan. 

• Mediation: The EU plays an important mediatory role through the offices of the European Union Special Representative (EUSR).  Ms Annette Weber was appointed as EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa on 1 July 2021.  After the war, Ms Weber provides the EU with an active political presence by coordinating with key regional countries and beyond to find ways to end the conflict in Sudan. 

• Engagement: The EU is engaging with all the parties in Sudan, as relevant for attaining the objectives of: 1) a ceasefire negotiations and credible peace mediation process that includes civilian actors; 2) protection of civilians across all of Sudan; 3) restore rule of law, accountability, respect for international law, humanitarian law and human rights law and justice in Sudan.

• Regional Security: The EU supports the unity and territorial integrity of Sudan.  The EU is against the extension of the conflict that can lead to the fragmentation of Sudan and the destabilization of the whole region. The prolonged conflict risks of spillover of violence in the Horn of Africa. EU rejects any attempts to divide Sudan.

• Strategic Areas: The EU closely works together with the AU, LAS and IGAD on ending the war in Sudan and to support a lasting peace.    EU, Africa and the Arab World share key strategic interests including the fight against terrorism, illegal migration and maritime security in the Red Sea. Both Sudan and EU have common interest, including global challenges such as climate change and regional issues such as cooperation in the Nile Basin.

• Preservation of Gains: The continued political and security crisis in Sudan has a negative and dreadful impact on the humanitarian situation, sustainable development and critical infrastructure in Sudan. The EU believes that it is essential for the warring parties to be aware of the expensive cost of the war and to prevent further deterioration of humanitarian conditions. Also, all Sudanese responsible forces should work together to avoid the depletion of the country resources, the smuggling of its treasures, and the loss of achievements made throughout Sudan's history including its revolution values of 2019 which called for peace, freedom and justice. 

• Building Bridges: The EU endeavours to building bridges between Sudan and Europe. The European Parliament (EP), the Council of the European Union, the European Commission (EC), and the European External Action Service (EEAS), as well as the individual Member States of the European Union work together, hand in hand, in full cooperation and coordination to this end through a steady flow of high level and technical visits and through a wide range of development programs and humanitarian interventions in Sudan. 

Despite the war the war that broke in April 2023, the EU continues to be one of the largest donors to Sudan. EU cooperation assistance is channelled through international organizations and UN agencies and targets Sudanese people in need. 

The EU has a cooperation portfolio of EUR 536.6 million with 37 ongoing projects. The EU has eight areas of intervention in Sudan: 

1. Social protection and basic services delivery (EUR 202.9 million), 

2. Rural resilience and food security (EUR 115.95 million), 

3. Income generation for young people (EUR 45 million), 

4. Education (EUR 93.85 million),

5. Health (EUR 40 million),

6. Human rights, Migration and forced displacement (EUR 23.81 million), 

7. Human rights – rule of law and media EUR (11.38 million),

8. Technical cooperation (EUR 3.8 million). 

Since the war started, the EU supports international organizations and UN agencies to continue their services in Sudan through providing food security, primary health care, human rights, protection, skills and employment and primary education in Sudan targeting displaced and host communities in Sudan and neighbouring countries (Chad, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Central African Republic).

The EU is one of the key and top humanitarian donors to Sudan. Together with its 27 Member states, the EU is the largest humanitarian donor in Sudan. The humanitarian aid of Sudan is distributed by the UN agencies and international humanitarian organizations operating from Sudan and the region. 

More than 30 million people (64% of the Sudanese population), including 16 million children, urgently need humanitarian assistance in the country. The EU humanitarian funding in Sudan stands at  €160 million in 2025 and €147 million in 2024. In 2025, the EU has allocated €160 million for lifesaving assistance to the most vulnerable persons.  Together with the regional response to the Sudan crisis the overall EU contribution in 2025 alone amounts to a total of €269 million.

EU humanitarian aid provides communities with health and nutritional care, cash, food assistance, water and sanitation, shelter, protection, nutritional treatment and care of children under 5, education to the most vulnerable households – the internally displaced, refugee families, and host communities.

The EU continues to raise serious humanitarian issues of concern in international platforms and with the Sudanese authorities including: 1) access and travel restrictions for humanitarian personnel and aid, 2) safety and security of aid workers, premises, and assets in Sudan must be guaranteed so that they can provide emergency assistance to those affected, 3) granting travel permits, provide fast-tracking visa applications and to ease customs restrictions.