European Union Heads of Mission have concluded their first joint visit to Sudan since the outbreak of war in April 2023, the EU delegation said.
The delegation, led by EU Ambassador to Sudan Wolfram Vetter, based temporarily in Cairo, included seven ambassadors and six deputy heads of mission from 10 EU member states, including Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland and Sweden.
The EU said the visit was intended to express solidarity with the Sudanese people and to assess the situation on the ground amid the ongoing conflict.
During the trip, the delegation met senior Sudanese officials, including Foreign Minister Mohyeldin Salim Ahmed Ibrahim, Prime Minister Dr. Kamil Idris, General Intelligence Service Director General Lt. Gen. Ahmed Ibrahim Mufaddal, and Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sovereignty Council and commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, as well as UN officials and diplomats.
The envoys called for de-escalation and an immediate move toward a comprehensive ceasefire, stressing the need to ensure safe humanitarian access through corridors and protected areas for civilians.
They expressed concern over reported violations of international humanitarian law, including incidents in El Fasher and Gezira State, and said humanitarian access restrictions must be lifted.
The delegation also underscored support for Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity and opposed efforts to form parallel governing authorities. It criticised continued external military support to the warring parties, saying it was prolonging the conflict.
The EU said it backed ongoing international mediation efforts, including those led by the Quad and the Quintet (African Union, United Nations, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, Arab League and the EU), and urged Sudanese authorities to engage constructively in political talks aimed at a civilian-led transition.
The envoys also raised concerns about regional spillover from the conflict, including risks of increased displacement, instability and cross-border crime.
The delegation thanked Sudanese authorities for facilitating the visit and the United Nations for logistical support, saying it would remain engaged with stakeholders in the coming period.
Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the army and the RSF regarding plans to integrate the paramilitary force into the military.The war has triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, killing tens of thousands and displacing nearly 13 million.
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