{"id":20131029,"date":"2026-04-16T18:25:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T16:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/?p=20131029"},"modified":"2026-04-16T20:36:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T18:36:58","slug":"germany-e1-5bn-aid-pledged-in-berlin-but-no-sudan-ceasefire-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/germany-e1-5bn-aid-pledged-in-berlin-but-no-sudan-ceasefire-deal","title":{"rendered":"Germany: \u20ac1.5bn aid pledged in Berlin, but no Sudan ceasefire deal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Germany\u2019s Foreign Minister has confirmed the Third International Conference on Sudan<\/a>, held in Berlin yesterday (May 15) failed to make progress towards securing a ceasefire in Sudan, despite international pledges of \u20ac1.5bn in humanitarian aid, and broad agreement among participants on the urgent need to end the fighting.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the German Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Serap G\u00fcler, said the gathering had not succeeded in achieving a truce or cessation of hostilities. Nonetheless, she stressed that foreign ministers and representatives from participating countries and organisations were united in calling for an immediate ceasefire and a pathway to peace.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conference concluded on Wednesday with pledges totalling \u20ac1.5bn<\/a>, alongside demands to halt hostilities, protect civilians, end external support for warring parties and allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Third International Conference on Sudan, held in Berlin yesterday (May 15) (Photo: Supplied)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As previously reported by Radio Dabanga, in a joint statement, the organisers \u2014 Germany, the UK, France, the African Union, the European Union and the United Nations \u2014 said 55 countries had taken part, along with UN agencies, financial institutions and 38 Sudanese non-governmental organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The meeting marked the third international conference on Sudan, following earlier gatherings in London and Paris, and came three years into a war that has triggered a profound humanitarian crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notably, the organisers did not invite the two main warring parties to the conflict<\/a>, citing their failure to make meaningful progress towards peace or a ceasefire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Major funding pledges<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

G\u00fcler said total commitments had reached \u20ac1.5bn. Germany pledged \u20ac232m in humanitarian assistance for Sudan and neighbouring countries, while the EU and its member states committed \u20ac811m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The European Commission said more than \u20ac360m had been allocated, including over \u20ac215m for Sudan and more than \u20ac145m for neighbouring countries hosting refugees. At least 25% of humanitarian funding, it added, would go to local organisations, alongside the creation of a programme to protect aid workers.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Women pick through the debris of a fire that claimed the lives of three children Abu Dhar camp for displaced people in Umm Dukhun, Central Darfur (File photo: Umm Dukhun Emergency Room)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Saudi Arabia also pledged $145m this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

G\u00fcler said Germany would channel support through UN agencies, NGOs, and emergency response groups. \u201cI told officials in Port Sudan that humanitarian aid must reach all areas, including those under the control of other parties,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added that funds would be mobilised over the course of the year through existing mechanisms, noting a clear willingness among international actors to contribute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pressure on warring parties<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked about concrete steps to end the war, G\u00fcler said the conference sent a clear message that the conflict in Sudan had not been forgotten despite other regional crises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe next steps include maintaining international pressure on the parties to the conflict,\u201d she said, adding that the international community would continue to monitor developments closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She suggested the war had persisted in part because both sides believed they could continue without consequence. \u201cThat assumption is incorrect,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Desperation and devastation \u2013 exhausted children displaced from El Fasher rest en route to Tawila (Photo: RD correspondent)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Civil society breakthrough<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

G\u00fcler described a parallel meeting of around 40 Sudanese civil society figures as one of the conference\u2019s most significant achievements. Despite three years of divisions, participants agreed on a joint position, supported by efforts from a five-member facilitation group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Civil society representatives issued a joint statement \u2014 which G\u00fcler described as the most impactful moment of the conference \u2014 declaring their readiness to assume a political role in a future transition. She said this signalled that a political solution remained possible, though she cautioned it was only a first step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EU\u2019s special envoy for the Horn of Africa, Annette Weber, is expected to visit Port Sudan next week for further talks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mixed Sudanese reactions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sudanese political figures offered differing assessments of the conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Siddiq Tawir, a Ba\u2019ath party leader, described the Berlin meeting of political and civil forces as an important step, bringing together a broad spectrum of Sudanese actors for the first time. He said their joint appeal called for an immediate end to the war, serious measures to address the crisis and conditions for a Sudanese-led political process, alongside commitments to national unity, democratic civilian transition, and increased humanitarian support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mubarak Ardol, head of the Democratic Alliance for Social Justice, said the joint declaration by more than 40 Sudanese figures was a significant achievement despite the challenges involved. He noted that it called for ending the conflict and launching an inclusive political process leading to a civilian transitional government and eventual elections, while acknowledging shortcomings in representation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legal expert Saleh Mahmoud said the final declaration covered seven key areas, including ending the war, protecting civilians, facilitating aid, and pursuing justice. He added that the document was not final and would be shared with groups that did not attend. He also highlighted what he described as a unified international stance and renewed global attention on Sudan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sumud coalition similarly described the document as an important step towards a unified civilian position to end the war. Its leader, Abdalla Hamdok, said the conference reflected genuine international political will to intensify efforts to bring the conflict to an end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Government rejection<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, Sudan\u2019s prime minister, Kamil Idris, dismissed the Berlin conference<\/a>, saying it did not represent the Sudanese government or people and that its outcomes were therefore irrelevant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at a press conference in Khartoum on Wednesday, he criticised organisers for not inviting the government, calling the omission a \u201cgrave mistake\u201d that signalled the conference\u2019s likely failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said Sudan\u2019s government and people would not accept partial solutions, pointing to protests rejecting externally imposed proposals. Had the government been invited, he added, it would have participated and \u201cset out the facts\u201d.<\/p>\n