Note, the UK, USA, France are permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC). The UK is the permanent penholder on Sudan. The US is the permanent penholder on South Sudan and on Sudan sanctions.
From Security Council Report
IN FOCUS THIS WEEK 31 August - 4 September 2026 - excerpts:
France assumes the presidency of the Security Council for September. Council members will meet in closed consultations to discuss the provisional programme of work for the month.
WATCH ITEMS
Members will also continue discussing a draft resolution renewing the 1591 Sudan sanctions regime, which was authored by the US, the penholder on Sudan sanctions.
An end to the suffering in Sudan will only come through an humanitarian truce, a permanent ceasefire and an inclusive civilian-led political process: UK statement at the UN Security Council
Statement by Ambassador Sarah MacIntosh, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan. Excerpts:
“With 33 million people needing humanitarian assistance; gross violations of human rights; civilians targeted with attacks, torture and arbitrary detention; horrifying sexual violence; and deprivation of essential services.
An end to this suffering will only come through an humanitarian truce, a permanent ceasefire and an inclusive civilian-led political process to secure a sustainable peace.”
Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered:
Report from The Guardian Supported by the guardian.org By Fiona Harvey Environment editor Published Sun 26 Jul 2026 17.00 BST Last modified on Mon 27 Jul 2026 02.30 BST - full copy:
Ed Miliband indicates development and climate will be at heart of UK foreign policy Exclusive: Foreign secretary to take up World Bank seat and play active role in shaping changes to global lender
IMAGE: Experts have welcomed Miliband’s move as a boost to climate action. Photograph: PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo/Alamy Live News.
Britain’s foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, is to indicate he will put the climate crisis and overseas development at the heart of UK international relations by taking up the country’s seat on the board at the World Bank.
The position, which is usually delegated to a junior minister, means Miliband will play an active role in shaping the changes to the World Bank that developing countries have called for, and ensuring the climate remains a core focus for overseas aid.
Miliband, who was energy and net zero secretary under Keir Starmer, will say: “International development is not an add-on to British foreign policy – it is central to it. By taking on the role of UK governor to the World Bank, I want to send an unambiguous signal that this government is serious about its global leadership on development and climate.”
His announcement comes as fires continue to devastate swathes of France and Spain, and after Scotland called for military aid to tackle a blaze that engulfed the Cairngorms. Conditions approaching drought across England and parts of Wales have prompted hosepipe bans, and the heatwave that swept across Europe in June is estimated to have cost the continent’s grain farmers €2bn (£1.7bn) in lost revenue.
By taking up the World Bank seat personally, Miliband is sending a clear signal that while other politicians even now argue against net zero policies, the Foreign Office will continue to drive climate action.
The move comes at a crucial time for the international lender, which has come under heavy pressure from the Trump administration to reverse a previous focus on climate finance. Last month, the publicly funded bank scrapped its goal for 45% of its finance to be directed to climate-related ends.
Experts welcomed Miliband’s decision as a boost to climate action. Lord Stern, a professor of economics at the London School of Economics, said the foreign secretary’s take-up of the UK governor’s seat would “send a powerful and important signal” to the world.
“As a former chief economist and senior vice-president of the World Bank, I know that the UK can punch above its weight,” he said. “But only if the leadership is there from the top. In recent years, that has slipped. Ed Miliband will be restoring development and climate to the priority in our international relationships that they must have, in a world facing climate and biodiversity crises, and with real and growing threats to the wellbeing of the world’s poorest.”
Other countries have been wary of challenging the US on its anti-climate stance, for fear of reptrisals and after widespread cuts to developed countries’ overseas aid. The UK is one of six countries with its own seat at the World Bank board.
Mohamed Adow, a director of Power Shift Africa, a thinktank, said Miliband could champion changes at the lender that would help the poor.
“The real test is whether the UK uses its influence to push the World Bank to deliver far more finance for climate action and adaptation, to get money to countries faster, and ensure the poorest nations are not forced deeper into debt to respond to a crisis they did least to cause,” Adow said. “If this appointment marks the start of renewed British leadership on global climate and development, it will be warmly welcomed across Africa.”
Miliband will face a shrinking aid budget and tough decisions over allocation. Starmer slashed overseas aid to 0.3% of gross national income, a sharp reduction from 0.5% under the Conservatives and the 0.7% reached under the last Labour government. Climate finance was also cut by 14%, from £11.6bn for the period 2021 to 2026 to £2bn a year.
Britain’s prime minister, Andy Burnham, was criticised last week for saying his planned £2 cap on bus fares in England would be funded mainly by changing international climate finance grants into repayable loans. The loans will go to the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, an investment fund set up by the Brazilian government.
Jonathan Hall, the managing director of the charity Conservation International UK, said that to restore its credibility, the government should rescind the cuts Starmer made to funding for nature protection despite Britain’s spy chiefs saying that ecosystem collapse overseas threatened national security.
“Miliband now needs to reintroduce a clear target for a third of the UK’s £6bn climate aid budget to finance natural ecosystems and tropical forests, a goal which was lost under his predecessor,” said Hall.
The UK will take over the leadership of the G20 group in November.
Rachel Kyte, the UK’s climate envoy and a former senior World Bank official, said: “We will be in the midst of an energy and food security crisis from the blockage of the strait of Hormuz. Compounding that is a severe El Niño. We will need every ounce of capacity in the international financial architecture to help some parts of the world through the severity of these impacts. Ed has seen what it takes to mobilise the world to action before, pulling every lever we have available to us. If needed, we will do it again, for our own and everyone else’s security.”
"The UK has sanctioned those suspected of being linked to financing, procurement, and commercial networks fuelling the Sudan conflict.
The sanctions come as the UK and international partners are on red alert, monitoring the deteriorating situation in El Obeid, where the RSF is building up surge forces around a city already under immense humanitarian pressure." See list of sanctioned below.
UK sanctions illicit gold networks fuelling Sudan’s war amid crisis around El Obeid
The UK has sanctioned those suspected of being linked to financing, procurement, and commercial networks fuelling the Sudan conflict.
UK announces Sudan sanctions package targeting illicit gold and finance networks sustaining the war
UK calls for UN arms embargo to cover El Obeid as city on the precipice of major atrocity
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper says UK will tackle those fuelling the conflict.
The UK has today announced sanctions targeting the conflict gold trade in Sudan, procurement networks and financial facilitators that are fuelling Sudan’s war.
Sudan’s booming gold industry is the engine of its war economy. While official gold exports were worth $1.5 billion in 2024 and 2025, the true value of the sector is estimated to be several times higher, with billions of dollars’ worth of gold smuggled out of Sudan each year through illicit channels, helping finance weapons procurement, military operations and the activities of armed groups.
These measures target eleven individuals and entities suspected of being linked to the financing, procurement and commercial networks supporting the RSF or the SAF and fuelling Sudan’s conflict. All are Sudanese but they trade internationally including in the gold markets in Dubai and Hong Kong.
At the centre of the package is Sudanese national Abu Dharr, suspected of being a notorious RSF financier and procurement facilitator. He is suspected of having helped fund and sustain RSF operations from beyond Sudan’s borders through a web of real estate, conflict gold, and holding companies based in Dubai.
Vast quantities of Sudanese gold continue to be monetised before entering global markets, making it a critical gateway for revenues generated by Sudan’s illicit gold sector.
By targeting these companies and facilitators, the UK is exposing and disrupting key commercial networks that help convert Sudan’s gold wealth into revenue that sustains the conflict.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said:
“The people of Sudan continue to pay the price for a war fuelled not only by guns and fighters, but by illicit flows of gold and finance to fill the war chests on both sides. These sanctions are targeting Sudan’s war economy and they will shine a light on those who seek to profit from these illegal shadow networks.
“As the world watches the deeply alarming build-up around El Obeid, we continue to call on the RSF to halt their assault. And we are making clear that those enabling atrocities, from the battlefield to the boardroom, will be held accountable.”
The sanctions come as the UK and international partners are on red alert, monitoring the deteriorating situation in El Obeid, where the RSF is building up surge forces around a city already under immense humanitarian pressure.
The UK has warned that El Obeid is at risk of becoming the scene of another mass atrocity, following the horrors witnessed in El Fasher. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has called for the UN arms embargo to be extended to reach El Obeid.
Illicit gold will be a priority theme at the UK’s Illicit Finance Summit, due to take place in London in December 2026. The Summit will bring together governments, civil society and the private sector to build an international coalition to tackle flows of dirty money around the world, including the trade in illicit gold.
· Abu Dharr Abdul Nabi Habiballa Ahmmed – RSF financier and procurement facilitator suspected of using a network of companies to secure funding, move money and support RSF operations.
· Prodigious Real Estate Management Supervision Services – Sudanese UAE-based company suspected of being part of Abu Dharr’s commercial network used to support RSF financing activities.
· Mazin Fadlalla – RSF-linked procurement operative suspected of being involved in acquiring funding, equipment and materiel for the RSF.
· Ahmed Hashim – RSF- linked procurement operative suspected of being involved in sourcing funding and supplies for the RSF.
· Natwest Logistics – Sudanese UAE-based company suspected of being used by Mazin Fadlalla and Ahmed Hashim to support RSF procurement and logistics activities.
· Aoun Commercial Brokers – Sudanese UAE-based company suspected of being used by Mazin Fadlalla and Ahmed Hashim to facilitate procurement and financial transactions for the RSF.
· Ahmad Abdalla – Procurement operative linked to the SAF and Defence Industries Systems (DIS), suspected of being involved in securing weapons, equipment and funding for the SAF.
·Portex Trade Limited – Sudanese Hong Kong-based company suspected of being used by Ahmad Abdalla to support SAF procurement activity and evade existing sanctions restrictions.
· Omdurman Mining – Sudanese state-owned mining company suspected of generating gold revenues that support the SAF’s war effort.
· Ariab Mining Company – Sudanese state-owned mining company suspected of involvement in illicit gold activities that generate revenue for the SAF.
· Sudamin Company Ltd – Sudanese state-owned mining company linked to Sudan’s gold sector and suspected of channelling revenue from conflict gold to both the SAF and RSF, including through past links to sanctioned company Al Junaid.
"We, the Foreign Ministers of like-minded partners (France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, UK), are deeply concerned by reports of a continued assault on El Obeid, despite calls for a halt to the attack and protection of civilians.
We call on the RSF to halt its attack immediately. Civilians must be able to leave safely, and all parties must ensure rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access. The RSF and the SAF, and their allies, must de-escalate, uphold international humanitarian law, and honour their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration." More.
UK and allies Joint Statement on the situation in El Obeid
The United Kingdom and E4+deliver a joint statement on the situation in El Obeid, Sudan.
We, the Foreign Ministers of like-minded partners (France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, UK), are deeply concerned by reports of a continued assault on El Obeid, despite calls for a halt to the attack and protection of civilians.
Last year, the world witnessed with horror the atrocities in El Fasher - crimes that are assessed to bear the “hallmarks of genocide”. We must not allow such failures to be repeated.
In recent weeks, repeated drone strikes on El Obeid have killed civilians and driven acute shortages of fuel, food and water. With the rainy season fast approaching, humanitarian workers continue to provide life-saving assistance but are being deliberately targeted.
There are now credible signs of an imminent offensive. This is a critical moment, and the international community must act.
We call on the RSF to halt its attack immediately. Civilians must be able to leave safely, and all parties must ensure rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access. The RSF and the SAF, and their allies, must de-escalate, uphold international humanitarian law, and honour their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration.
External support continues to sustain this conflict. We call on those fuelling the conflict to cease, and those with influence must exercise it now to avoid further bloodshed.
We will continue to work closely at the UN Security Council and with regional and international partners to secure a clear and unified response: the violence must end, civilians must be protected, and those responsible must be held to account. We remain committed to supporting a credible path to peace through the Quintet-led process and call on all parties to engage in good faith.
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.
"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.
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.
(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.
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 Africain 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."
