Sudan’s foreign minister has urged France to reopen its embassy in Khartoum and restore its cultural centres, as the army-aligned government seeks to rebuild diplomatic ties following its return to the capital.
Foreign Minister Muhyi al-Din Salim held talks in Khartoum on Tuesday with Jean-Marie Safa, France’s special envoy for Sudan and the Horn of Africa, according to the state-run Sudan News Agency (SUNA).
Salim said Sudan wants a new phase in relations with France based on transparency, integrity and facts. He urged Paris to assess conditions in Sudan directly rather than rely on what he described as false narratives promoted by groups seeking to return to power.
He cited allegations that the Sudanese army had used chemical weapons as an example of what he called misinformation.
The United States accused the Sudanese army of using chemical weapons and announced sanctions in May 2025, including restrictions on U.S. exports to the country and access to credit lines. Khartoum has denied the allegations and repeatedly called on Washington to disclose its evidence.
The war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023, has devastated large parts of the country, displaced millions of people and disrupted essential services.
Salim said Sudan is nearing the end of a difficult period and called for the reopening of France’s diplomatic mission and cultural centres, which he described as important institutions in Sudan’s cultural life.
Most European embassies suspended operations or relocated staff after fighting erupted in Khartoum on April 15, 2023. Some Arab and African countries have since reopened their missions in the capital, where security has improved, although fighting continues elsewhere in Sudan.
The talks also covered bilateral relations and efforts to promote peace and stability in Sudan and the wider Horn of Africa, SUNA reported.
On relations with Ethiopia, Salim said Sudan is open to dialogue with Addis Ababa if it stopped what he described as support for the RSF and actions threatening Sudan’s security. He said Sudan is committed to peace because it understood the suffering caused by war.
Envoy Safa said France wants to establish transparent relations with Sudan and help bridge divisions among Sudanese through dialogue aimed at reconciliation, SUNA reported.
He expressed hope that Sudanese people could ensure the current conflict would be the country’s last war.
A committee is consulting Sudanese political and other groups ahead of a proposed comprehensive dialogue inside the country, an initiative supported by the army-aligned government. Efforts to reach a political settlement face major challenges amid continued fighting and divisions over Sudan’s future.
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