UK's non-stop support to Sudan over past 22+ years

PEOPLE who criticise the United Kingdom's non-stop support to Sudan over the past 22+ years do not know what they are talking about. Sudan is a former British protectorate. Historic ties between Britain and Sudan stretch back more than a century. The UK has never stopped caring about Sudan.

Below is a must-see UN video followed by reports from the hundreds in Sudan Watch's archive relating to the UK's support to Sudan since 2003. 

Note that the UK is a 'Penholder' at the United Nations (UN). This includes (but is not limited to) Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The US is the penholder on Sudan sanctions and South Sudan. 

According to a report by the UN Security Council: 

"With few exceptions, Council outcomes on specific conflict-related situations are drafted by one of the P3 (France, the UK and the US) as the self-appointed penholders.

Permanent members China and Russia have in recent years occasionally served as co-penholders with the US on non-proliferation issues in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Golan Heights, respectively. Elected members have served as penholders on Afghanistan, Guinea-Bissau and some thematic issues (see Annex for details)."

France is one of the founding members of the UN and plays a key role in many issues. Since 1945, it has been a member of the Security Council where it sits as a permanent member alongside the United Kingdom, the United States, China and Russia.

Sudan: Vote on a Draft Resolution to Protect Civilians

WATCH VIDEO: 14 in favour, 1 against (Russia), 0 abstentions

Chaired by the UK's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Affairs The Rt Hon David Lammy MP. A powerful speech by Mr Lammy is on the video, after the vote, followed by statements given by the representative for each country, including Russia and Sudan.

Live broadcast courtesy of UN Media 18 Nov 2024 2:30PM GMT UK

Click “Settings” cog for sub-titles in English, Russian, Spanish, Interlingua, Chinese, Arabic, French.

Related reports: Sudan Watch - 18 Nov 2024

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Sudan Watch - 23 Aug 2004

British Government behind African troops - Britain stands ready to provide further assistance if necessary

Sudan is a former British protectorate. Britain is the world's largest cash donor, and the second-largest contributor of aid, to Sudan. 

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2004/08/british-government-behind-african.html

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Sudan Watch - 06 Oct 2004

Blair arrives in Khartoum to press for Darfur peace - Blair outlines demands to Sudan

British Prime Minister Tony Blair flew in to Khartoum earlier today. He is the most senior Western government official to visit Sudan since the Darfur conflict erupted.

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2004/10/blair-arrives-in-khartoum-to-press-for.html

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Sudan Watch - 21 Feb 2006

Benn: UK to provide 20 million pounds for African Union mission in Sudan

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2006/02/benn-uk-to-provide-20-million-pounds.html

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Video report by Associated Press - 29 March 2017

UK minister in Sudan to discuss cooperation

(29 Mar 2017) Britain and Sudan agreed on Wednesday to strengthen their cooperation in the fight against "violent extremism". The commitment followed a meeting between delegations from the two countries in Khartoum. Director for Africa at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Neil Wigan led the British delegation, while Sudan's Undersecretary at the Foreign Ministry Abdul Ghani al-Naeem the Sudanese. The issues of human trafficking, illegal immigration were also on the agenda. The last strategic dialogue between the two countries took place in London last October.

View original at YouTube: https://youtu.be/b6o275gk8FQ

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UK Ministry of Defence - 02 May 2017

UK troops deploy to South Sudan to support peacekeeping mission

The latest deployment of British troops has arrived in South Sudan to continue support to the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping mission.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-troops-deploy-to-south-sudan-to-support-peacekeeping-mission

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Sudan Watch - 29 Mar 2024

UK doubles its aid to Sudan to £89m as crisis escalates

UK CHANNEL 4 NEWS VIDEO FROM CHAD-SUDAN

Click on “Settings” cog /auto-translate/ options for 

sub-titles in preferred language.

Full story: https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2024/03/uk-channel-4-news-video-from-chad-sudan.html

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Sudan Watch - 21 Nov 2024

Sudan: Furious row at UN as Russia blocks resolution to protect civilians. SAF chief praises Russia UN veto

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2024/11/sudan-furious-row-at-un-as-russia.html

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Sudan Watch - 25 Jan 2025

US freezes nearly all foreign assistance worldwide. UK announces £20m in additional funding to Sudan

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2025/01/us-freezes-nearly-all-foreign.html

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Sudan Watch - 19 Feb 2025

Sudan calls on the UK to engage ‘as friends’ rather than through confrontation at international forums

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2025/02/sudan-calls-on-uk-to-engage-as-friends.html

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Sudan Watch - 13 Mar 2025

UK statement at UNSC: In April, UK's Foreign Secretary will convene FM's in London to help end Sudan conflict and improve humanitarian response

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2025/03/uk-statement-at-unsc-in-april-uks.html

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Postscript

Sudan Watch - 08 Jan 2025

Sudan is the Origin of Humanity, Says Oxford Study

According to the two articles copied here below, everybody alive today came from one African country, Sudan. Note that an excerpt from World History says: "Kush was a kingdom in northern Africa in the region corresponding to modern-day Sudan. The larger region around Kush (later referred to as Nubia) was inhabited c. 8,000 BCE but The Kingdom of Kush rose much later."

Full story: https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2025/01/sudan-is-origin-of-humanity-says-oxford.html

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The 50th anniversary plaque of the first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly

Click for larger image here: Wikipedia

"To the glory of God and in prayer for peace on earth / This tablet commemorates the first meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations in the Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, Jan 10 - Feb 14 1946"  [Hat tip: Dr Antony Stokes LVO OBE]

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End

London synagogue rescues Muslim family from Sudan

THANKS to a Sudanese reader, living in England after fleeing war in Sudan 20 years ago, for this heartwarming story about courage, the kindness of strangers and remarkable work done by members of Britain’s oldest progressive shul, alongside others at a local mosque and nearby church.

They're home! Salih Adam with his wife and child at Heathrow on Thurs -JN

Article at Jewish News - jewishnews.co.uk
By LEE HARPIN
Dated Thursday 17 August 2023, 12:20 pm - here is a full copy:

London synagogue helps rescue Muslim family from war-torn Sudan

EXCLUSIVE: The family’s arrival in the UK comes as a result of the remarkable work done on their behalf by members of Britain’s oldest progressive shul.

They're home! Salih Adam with his wife and child at Heathrow on Thursday.

A Sudanese-born Muslim man who fled the war-torn state for a new life in Britain has risked his life for a second time to bring his wife and baby daughter to this country with the help of West London Synagogue.

Salih Adam, 35, who received UK citizenship this year, arrived at Heathrow this morning after completing a dangerous journey back to his homeland to rescue his wife Moram, 35, and 10-month-old Warif from the on-going civil war, which has seen more than one million people flee  the country.

The family’s arrival in the UK comes as a result of the remarkable work done on their behalf by members of Britain’s oldest progressive shul, alongside others at a local mosque and nearby church.

Nic Schlagman, head of social action and interfaith at WLS, who has become friends with Salih since he was directed to the shul’s homeless shelter by a local charity in 2014, praised his “absolute bravery and determination” to be reunited with his family.

He also reflected on the historical fact that help, often from strangers, had saved countless Jewish families from being wiped out during the Holocaust.

Photograph: Salih meeting the King at West London Synagogue in December 2015

Photograph by Elliott Franks

“Family members living in Germany at the time figured they could get my grandmother, who was five-years-old, out of a small town in Poland and onto a train to London to ensure her safety,” said Shlagman. 

“She was taken in and brought up by strangers in London who paid to do this themselves.

“I grew up in a household where we knew that the kindness of strangers was literally the only reason we were alive, when people around us wanted to kill us.

“Helping Salih and his family was not done out of self-interest but a sense that people in the world simply need our help. I feel a tremendous sense of pride that we have been able to complete a circle.”

Alongside other shul members, a group of volunteers had worked tirelessly to organise Salih’s risky route to his family, and their eventual journey back to the UK.

The family reunion was also made possible with the assistance of Rabbi Sybil Sheridan, renowned for her work in providing assistance to the Jews of Ethiopia, who provided a fixer for Salih as he risked his life on the border with Sudan to get passports to his wife and infant child.

Schlagman praised the Home Office, and staff at Labour leader Keir Starmer’s constituency office, near where Salih lives, for their critical help.

Schlagman also confirmed the Saudi Arabian embassy in the UK had also been supportive, as the family escaped the war-ravaged republic by flying out to the city of Jeddah, before catching a final flight to London.

Philanthropist Edwin Shuker, who chairs the Board’s of Deputies’ communities and education division, also had a key role in the mission’s success.

But Schlagman said: “Salih is the real hero in this story, someone who has travelled from Sudan, to Ethiopia, to Saudia Arabia to come home. What he has done is unbelievably brave. He has thrown himself into danger, just to be the best father and husband he could be.”

With his wife living at his mother’s home in Darfur, it took Salih two years to travel, first across Libya, then into Europe, and finally on a boat across the English channel before he would arrive in UK in 2014, with the promise of work through contacts to provide for his family he left behind.

Civil war in Darfur meant his life was at risk if he stayed there. Inside the WLS homeless shelter he was offered vital support, and shul members helped to pay for the doorman’s licence that allowed Salih to work.

At the time WLS shul members were also making monthly trips to Calais to help migrants in the “jungle” camps. Salih offered to volunteer on trips himself.

When Prince Charles visited WLS to celebrate its 175th anniversary in 2015, Salih was one of six people connected to the shul that he spoke with, as the future King praised the social action work of the institution.

Moving to council accommodation in Camden, Salih has continued to do voluntary work for the shul.

View original: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/shul-rescues-muslim-family-from-sudan/

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