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Report by Amgad Abdelgadir

Traffic near the official home of British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, located at 10 Downing Street in central London, came to a halt on Wednesday evening when pro-Sudan activists blocked Whitehall, which houses multiple UK government departments such as the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence. Protesters then approached MPs at a nearby restaurant, highlighting their accusation that ‘Britain is materially involved in the atrocities taking place in the besieged city of El Fasher, Sudan’.

What started as a peaceful demonstration evolved into a march toward the Foreign Office, followed by a confrontation outside a restaurant where MPs were eating behind glass.

Demonstrators held up signs that accused the United Kingdom of “supporting genocide” by supplying weapons to the UAE, which is said to back the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) group.

“We were chanting outside, and we could see them dining through the windows. It was truly dystopian. While they were eating, bombs were falling — that was the message. Even if they only heard us for a moment, they would know: we are demanding a free Sudan,” said an organizer from London for Sudan, who requested anonymity.

This is the strongest measure London has taken regarding Sudan, and it’s due toEl Fasher is urgent“There must be escalation at every level, including political, community, fundraising, and media,” the organizer added.

North Darfur’s capital of El Fasherhas survived almost 18 months of blockade, with medical facilities targeted, supply lines disrupted, and residents killed. UN organizations caution that starvation is about to occur; Sudanese advocates claim it has already begun.

Over 2,000 individuals have lost their lives within a span of three days.El Fasheris under attack; a severe food crisis has emerged. Individuals lack the strength to weep, as crying requires energy they no longer possess,” stated 19-year-old organizer Ziyad Kashan.

“No water, no electricity, no internet. People are being shot while trying to escape. El Fasher provided shelter to those who fled genocide 20 years ago, but now they are confronting another genocide,” he emphasized.

‘UK complicity’

Outrage in Westminster focused on the disclosure that weapons manufactured in the UK have reached RSF fighters, having been sent through the UAE.

“An investigation by The Guardianrecently demonstrated that a weapons producer based in Wales had arms reaching the RSF, channelled via the UAE since 2013,” Kashan stated.

“The UK has exported £417m worth of arms to the UAE even though there is UN evidence showing the UAE supports the RSF. Nevertheless, UK officials continue to hold meetings with UAE leaders. That speaks volumes,” the young activist added.

Another demonstrator, Waleed Elgadi, stated, “Enough. Khalas [Arabic for ‘stop’]. The Sudanese population has endured too much. People in Darfur experienced this 20 years ago, and they are going through it once more. The pattern continues endlessly.”

If you’re located in the UK, you are involved in this conflict, not by means of military forces, but through financial support. The UK previously provided funding to RSF units in an effort to prevent migration into Europe.

Elgadi, mentioning supposed RSF misconduct prior to the war in Sudan, pointed out their involvement through the EU-backed Khartoum Process between 2016 and 2019, during which they were responsible for border surveillance, especially along the Libya border, in an effort to limit migration.

According to the Forced Migration Review, they frequently used this position to gain benefits, including human trafficking and sexual exploitation, leading to worries that EU financial support might unintentionally facilitate these violations.

The demonstration also attracted advocates from outside the Sudanese population.

“I am here as a Palestinian. Brothers and sisters from Sudan marched for Gaza, and we also stand with them. The genocide in Sudan is equally urgent,” Amro, a Palestinian protester, stated.

Regarding UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Amro stated, “He has transformed the UK Labour Party into the ‘genocide party,’ and the UK is providing arms to regimes”committing atrocitiesthroughout the globe in Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Gaza.

“We will ensure Sudan is not overlooked,” he pledged.

For organizer Tasneem Farah, the situation in Sudan highlights the importance of global attention and response.

“Sudan is facing the world’s biggest humanitarian emergency. The situation in El Fasher, Kordofan, and the Nuba Mountains throughout the country is terrible,” Farah stated.

The UK and UAE are significantly involved, both financially and militarily,” she stated, noting that they also promote stories that help people remain indifferent.

“Sudan has fallen apart, including its infrastructure and education system,” she stressed, pointing out that reconstruction demands genuine dedication and actual resources.

At the conclusion of the demonstration, the unidentified organizer contemplated the reasons behind their decision not to remain silent.

“People must comprehend the events taking place, not only in El Fasher but throughout Darfur and Sudan. Our responsibility is to highlight these issues and ensure Sudan remains in the spotlight,” the organizer stated.

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Tagged: Sudan, Europe and Africa, Conflict, Peace and Security, Middle East and Africa, East Africa, External Relations

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