Showing posts with label UK FCO. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UK FCO. Show all posts

Thursday, May 09, 2024

United Kingdom is on a "war footing". New UK Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa and Red Sea appointed

On April 24, 2024 the BBC reported that many of the front pages declare that the UK is on a "war footing" after Rishi Sunak's announcement of an extra £75bn for defence over the next six years. 

The Telegraph says there will be a focus on hypersonic missiles, lasers, anti-tank rockets and artillery shells. Writing in the paper, the chief of the defence staff - Admiral Sir Tony Radakin - said the investment was a sign that Britain had lost none of her famous resolve.

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New UK Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa and Red Sea appointed

Alison Blackburne is the UK’s Special Envoy for the Red Sea and Horn of Africa, starting in this role in May 2024. Alison was the British Ambassador to South Sudan from April 2017 to May 2019, and before that British High Commissioner to Uganda from August 2012 to November 2016.
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HERE is a full copy of Africa Press Release
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Government of UK
Dated Thursday, 9 May 2024 

New United Kingdom Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa and Red Sea appointed: Alison Blackburne

Alison Blackburne has been appointed UK Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa and Red Sea. She takes up the role with experience in a wide range of diplomatic roles in the UK and overseas, including previously serving as the British High Commissioner to Uganda and British Ambassador to South Sudan. 


The UK Envoy’s role is to lead the UK response to international activity in the Horn of Africa region, engaging with key actors.


Deputy Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell said: The UK is committed to building our long-term partnerships in the Horn of Africa, wider East Africa and across the Gulf. Our relationship tackles a range of issues, from humanitarian crises to trade, investment, and regional security.  


It’s been a critical year for the region, from a devastating conflict in Sudan, to attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and building our trade links in the Gulf. 


Alison will bring invaluable knowledge and experience to the role, and I am confident she will grow our diplomatic relationships in the coming years.


UK Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa and Red Sea Alison Blackburne said: The Horn of Africa is a dynamic region, and the UK remains focussed on working with partners to bring peace, stability, and prosperity for its people.


We are committed to tackling the key issues which affect communities across the region.  These include conflict and instability, humanitarian crises, climate change and food insecurity, as well as the challenges and opportunities of regional economic cooperation and trade and investment. 


 It is a privilege to accept this position, and I look forward to working with our international partners at such a crucial time.


View original:  https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/africa-press-releases/new-united-kingdom-special-envoy-to-the-horn-of-africa-and-red-sea-appointed-alison-blackburne-s3nghnzc


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Friday, March 22, 2024

FULL TEXT: UK statement at the UN Security Council: The risk of famine in Sudan is of extreme concern

NOTE, the UK and the US are permanent Members of the UN Security Council. The UK is the penholder on Sudan. The US is penholder on South Sudan, Sudan/South Sudan, Sudan sanctions and South Sudan sanctions. 


Here is a transcript of a speech delivered in the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan by UK Ambassador James Kariuki on 20 March 2024.


Speech

The risk of famine in Sudan is of extreme concern: UK statement at the UN Security Council


Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan 


From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and James Kariuki

Published 20 March 2024


Location: United Nations, New York

Delivered on: 20 March 2024 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)


Thank you, President. I thank Ms Wosornu, Mr Martina and Mr Skau for their briefing. We are grateful to OCHA, WFP and FAO for alerting the Council to this urgent crisis. And to Switzerland and Guyana for convening the Council so swiftly. I welcome the participation of the Representative of Sudan.


President, the risk of famine in Sudan, set out in OCHA’s White Note, is of extreme concern.  After a bad harvest, severe hunger will deepen, harming vulnerable people the most. Most of the fatalities will be children under five. We pay tribute to the UN, international and Sudanese humanitarian staff working in extreme conditions to alleviate this suffering.


I’ll make three points:


First, the White Note is clear that obstruction of humanitarian access by the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces is resulting in the starvation of the Sudanese people. Using starvation as a method of warfare is prohibited by international humanitarian law. 


The Sudanese authority’s decision to allow extremely limited humanitarian access from Chad is nowhere near enough to meet the soaring humanitarian needs, especially whilst crossline access remains completely blocked.


We call on the warring parties to urgently ensure and facilitate unimpeded access via all routes, both cross-border and crossline, including through the vital route at Adre.


Second, we need increased humanitarian funding.


The United Kingdom has provided over $54 million in humanitarian aid to the people of Sudan this financial year. And we are providing financial support to those fleeing to neighbouring countries.


We welcome the upcoming France, German and EU-hosted pledging event, and appeal to the international community to increase funding to avoid the horrific scenario of one million excess deaths in Sudan this year. 


But while funding is important, this man-made crisis ultimately requires a political solution.


So third, the fighting needs to stop. The world is witnessing the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of a conflict that should never have begun.  


The failure of the SAF and RSF to implement a Ramadan ceasefire and immediately facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access in line with Council resolution 2724, is unacceptable. We call on both to stop fighting immediately and return to negotiations.


Given the clear warning of impending famine, it is imperative that the Council remains siezed of this issue and that we hold ourselves, and the warring parties, accountable for delivering the recommendations in the White Note.


Published 20 March 2024


View original: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-risk-of-famine-in-sudan-is-of-extreme-concern-uk-statement-at-the-un-security-council


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Sunday, April 23, 2023

How elite team of British troops evacuated UK diplomats from Khartoum. Britons in Sudan tell FCDO

NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: The following report reveals something of the 1,200 British personal involved in the evacuation of diplomats in Khartoum but gives no credit to UK Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace, an excellent defence chief with an interesting military career. 

The report says, British nationals, or those with UK passports, can tell the government if they are trapped in Sudan by using this form. More below.

Note that Russia is UN Security Council president in April. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to chair meetings. On Tuesday, there will be an open briefing and closed consultations on Sudan. 

The UK (the penholder on the file) requested the meeting* to discuss developments in the country after fighting erupted on 15 April in and around Khartoum between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces. At the time of writing, the briefers for the meeting had yet to be confirmed.

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Report from Sky News UK

By Deborah Haynes

Security and Defence Editor @haynesdeborah

Sunday 23 April 2023 18:00, BST UK


Exclusive

Sudan: How elite team of British troops evacuated UK diplomats from warzone capital


The team of British soldiers with the diplomats had to travel from their assembly point in Khartoum to the airfield - a journey of about 30km (18 miles), through multiple checkpoints.


The covert mission to evacuate British diplomats and their families from Sudan's warzone capital began under the cover of darkness.


A team of elite British troops flew into Khartoum late on Saturday night on board an American military aircraft that was part of a separate but coordinated US evacuation mission.


Upon landing, the British soldiers left their American counterparts, acquired a number of local vehicles and drove across the city towards where the UK embassy is located.

Play Video - British nationals 'remain a top priority 2:19

British nationals 'remain a top priority' says Foreign Secretary James Cleverly [pictured].


The British mission and its diplomats are in an area of Khartoum that sits between Sudan's two warring factions, making their extraction particularly perilous.


During the day on Saturday, those who were due to be rescued had gathered themselves together.


It was thought to be around two dozen British diplomats plus family members as well as a handful of officials from other nations that Britain had offered to help.


The troops met with the evacuation party of around 30 people, including children, and prepared for the extraction.


They had to assess the situation on the ground - the scene of deadly fighting for the past week and a half - and work out if it was safe enough to bring them out without more back-up.


In tandem with this first leg of the mission, two Royal Air Force transport planes - a C-130 Hercules and an A400M Airbus - had taken off from RAF Akrotiri, a sprawling British military base in Cyprus.


The aircraft, operating in coordination with the French and US armed forces and with permission from the Sudanese military, landed on a Sudanese airfield called Wadi Seidna which is about 30km north of Khartoum, at around 1am on Sunday morning, UK time.


This was about an hour and a half after the US aircraft - carrying the initial team of elite British soldiers - had landed in Khartoum.


The potentially most hazardous stage in the UK rescue mission came next.


The elite team of British soldiers with the diplomats had to travel from their assembly point in Khartoum to the airfield - a journey of about 30km (18 miles), through multiple checkpoints.


If heavy fighting was taking place, UK defence planners had been ready to send in more aircraft and troops, with the ability to "punch through" the checkpoints and reach the diplomats.


In that event, the soldiers with them would have been tasked with protecting the diplomats from the fighting until help came, rather than driving them out.


In the event, however, a window opened of relative calm to allow the soldiers on the ground to drive their passengers to the airfield.


A unit of troops from the two aircraft, which brought in vehicles as well for the operation, also mobilised and moved towards the incoming rescue team in case needed.


It was not immediately clear if the British troops encountered any gunfire or shelling.


Once at the airfield, the diplomats and families boarded the aircraft and the two British planes took off at around 9am, UK time, and headed back to Cyprus.


It is thought the aircraft had been on the ground for about seven to eight hours.


British nationals, or those with UK passports, can tell the government if they are trapped in Sudan by using this form [ https://www.register.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/sudan-20230422/register-your-presence-in-sudan-with-fcdo ]


View original and video interview: 

https://news.sky.com/story/sudan-how-elite-team-of-british-troops-evacuated-uk-diplomats-from-warzone-capital-12864485

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Details of evacuation revealed, with more than 1,200 personnel involved


Sky News has some more details about what the evacuation of British diplomats and their families entailed:


Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said on Twitter: "The operation involved more than 1,200 British personnel from 16 Air Assault Brigade, the Royal Marines and the RAF.


"I am grateful to all our partners including Cyprus. I want to pay tribute to the bravery and professionalism of our armed forces."


Here is the tweet: 

https://news.sky.com/story/sudan-latest-uk-ready-evacuate-diplomats-as-fierce-fighting-rages-12864054?postid=5815472#liveblog-body

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A convoy seen on Sunday thought to be evacuating UN staff from Sudan

IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES

Image caption, A convoy was seen on Sunday thought to be evacuating UN staff from Sudan


Source: BBC News 23 April 2023 

Sudan fighting: Diplomats and foreign nationals evacuated:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-65363586.amp

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Report from Sky News LIVE


Sunday 23 April 2023 14:39 BST UK - excerpt:


Passport doesn't have an automatic right to rescue, military analyst says


Philip Ingram, former senior military intelligence and security officer, has been speaking to Sky News throughout the day about what is happening in Sudan.


We asked him about the British nationals who are still in Sudan, having not been included in the initial rescue of diplomats and their families.


He said: "It's an unfortunate reality of life that whenever you get a British passport - or you get a passport from any country around the world - it doesn't automatically have written in it '...and you will be evacuated from any situation that you find yourself in'.


"First and foremost, there's an individual responsibility and, if you go into a country that you know is unstable, you're going in for a reason.


"It's usually to make lots of money, and you're usually going in with another international organisation or large corporate organisation who have the first responsibility to get their people out if the situation is worsening.


"It's only when it gets really bad that government step in."


But for those Britons who do not fit into this category, he said: "Stay inside, register your location (with the Foreign Office) and have the confidence that the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence will be looking for specific threats against British nationals and will let you know - but in this case no news is probably good news."


Full story at Sky News LIVE:

https://news.sky.com/story/sudan-latest-uk-ready-evacuate-diplomats-as-fierce-fighting-rages-12864054?postid=5815858#liveblog-body

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*Report from What’s in Blue

Sunday 23 April 2023 

THE WEEK AHEAD at the UN SECURITY COUNCIL

24-28 April 2023 - excerpt:


On Monday (24 April), Russia will convene a ministerial-level open debate on “Effective multilateralism through the defense of the principles of the UN Charter”, under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to chair the meeting. Secretary-General António Guterres is the anticipated briefer.


On Tuesday (25 April), the Security Council will convene for its quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland will brief at the meeting, which will be chaired by Lavrov.


Also on Tuesday, there will be an open briefing and closed consultations on Sudan. The UK (the penholder on the file) requested the meeting to discuss developments in the country after fighting erupted on 15 April in and around Khartoum between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces. At the time of writing, the briefers for the meeting had yet to be confirmed.


Background information on many of these issues has been published in our April 2023 Monthly Forecast.


Further Council developments will be posted to What’s in Blue.


Follow us on Twitter @SCRtweets.

Source: 

https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/whatsinblue/2023/04/open-debate-effective-multilateralism-through-the-defense-of-the-principles-of-the-un-charter.php

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[Ends]

Limited evacuation of foreigners begins. UK has hotline and urges Britons in Sudan to contact FO

Report from BBC News

Sunday 23 April 2023 c 01:50 GMT UK


Sudan fighting: Limited evacuation of foreigners begins


Those evacuated to Saudi Arabia on Saturday were welcomed at Jeddah Sea Port with sweets and roses

The UK government is considering ways to evacuate its embassy staff from Sudan, as fighting between rival armies continues in the capital Khartoum.

More than 150 people were evacuated by sea to the Saudi Arabian port of Jeddah on Saturday - mostly nationals of Gulf countries.

Khartoum airport has been repeatedly targeted and Canada's government says no flights are possible yet.

It has told Canadians in Sudan to "shelter in a safe place".

Describing the security situation as "highly volatile", the Canadian government travel advice tells citizens to keep their phones charged, their doors and windows locked and "consider leaving the country if there's a safe means to do so".

"With the airports and airspace closed, no air evacuations from Sudan are possible at this time," it says.

Meanwhile the UK has set up a hotline for those who need urgent help, and has urged its citizens in Sudan to tell the Foreign Office online or by phone where they are.

Any UK evacuation is expected to be very limited and focus on diplomatic staff - not comparable to the mass evacuation from Afghanistan in 2021.

Saturday's evacuation to Jeddah - the first since violence in Khartoum erupted last week - saw citizens, diplomats and international officials travel by sea. As well as Gulf nations, there were also citizens from Egypt, Pakistan and Canada.

Saturday, April 22, 2023

British troops & aircraft standby at overseas military base to airlift Britons & embassy staff in Sudan

Report from The Daily Telegraph's front page


Saturday 22 April 2023 00.30 GMT BST UK


Military ready to airlift Britons from Sudan


British military aircraft have been put on standby to fly out UK citizens and embassy staff caught up in the fighting in Sudan. 


British officials refused to say whether the Royal Air Force (RAF) would be involved in US plans for a possible airlift of civilians. 


But the Foreign Office yesterday said “prudent planning” to prepare for “various contingencies” was underway in the Ministry of Defence (MoD). 


The US State Department said those trapped in the country should not expect a co-ordinated evacuation. 

Continued on the newspaper’s page 13.

[Ends]

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Report from Alarabiya.net

By Reuters, London

Updated:

UK defence ministry is engaged in ‘prudent planning’ on Sudan

Britain’s government said its defence ministry was engaged in “prudent planning” related to the current conflict in Sudan, after a report that British troops and aircraft had been put on standby to evacuate embassy staff and civilians if needed.


Sudan’s army earlier said it had agreed to a three-day truce starting on Friday to enable people to celebrate the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr following almost a week of fighting between its troops and a rival paramilitary force.


Britain said it was coordinating with international partners to provide consular assistance to British nationals and support diplomatic staff.


“The Ministry of Defense is supporting the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office with prudent planning for various contingencies,” it added.


Sky News reported that British troops and aircraft were being put on standby at an overseas military base to airlift embassy staff and British nationals if needed.


View original: https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2023/04/22/UK-defense-ministry-is-engaged-in-prudent-planning-on-Sudan

[Ends]

Sunday, April 16, 2023

Hamdok's video message to Al-Burhan, Mohamed "Hemeti" Dagalo, and leaders of the SAF and RSF

NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: Many years before Sudan's president Bashir was jailed he fondly nicknamed Dagalo "Hemeti". He saw him as his replacement and the son he never had. He dislikes being called Hemeti. 
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From: BBC News LIVE - full copy
Saturday 15 April 2023 at 16:37 GMT UK

Edited by Rob Corp


Fighting must stop immediately - former  Sudanese prime minister


Copyright: Getty Images

Abdallah Hamdok in 2021

Image caption: Abdallah Hamdok in 2021


Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok has made a statement in a video posted on his Facebook account.


He says the "exchange of fire must stop immediately" and calls on the Sudanese people to "stay strong". 


Quote Message: My first message is to General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the leaders of the Sudanese military, and to Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, and the leaders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). 


The exchange of fire must stop immeditately, and the voice of reason must rule, everyone will lose, and there is no victory when it is atop the bodies of our people." from Abdallah Hamdok Former Prime Minister of Sudan


My first message is to General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the leaders of the Sudanese military, and to Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, and the leaders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The exchange of fire must stop immeditately, and the voice of reason must rule, everyone will lose, and there is no victory when it is atop the bodies of our people."

Abdallah Hamdok

Former Prime Minister of Sudan


He asks the Sudanese people not to allow "the drums of war to take over", before issuing a plea to the international community to "do their duty in finding a solution".


Hamdok served from 2019 until he was ousted in the October 2021 coup, before being reinstated again a month later.


He resigned last year after long-running disagreements with the army.


Source and further updates by the BBC here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-africa-65285254


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From BBC Live 



Saturday 15 April 2023 at 7:02 GMT UK - full copy

Military action will not resolve situation - UK foreign secretary

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has tweeted in the last few moments. 

He says the violence in Sudan "must stop immediately". 

Quote Message: The UK calls on the Sudanese leadership to do all they can to restrain their troops and deescalate to prevent further bloodshed. 
Quote Message: Military action will not resolve this situation." from James Cleverly UK Foreign Secretary
James CleverlyUK Foreign Secretary

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