Sudan’s civil war has entered its third year, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have besieged the city of El‑Fasher, the last Darfur state capital held by the army.
The siege has blocked major roads and humanitarian access, putting hundreds of thousands of civilians at risk of starvation. The World Food Programme warns that “everyone in el‑Fasher is facing a daily struggle to survive”. Food prices are up to five times higher than elsewhere in Sudan, and desperate families are surviving on livestock fodder. At the same time, Sudan’s government has accused the United Arab Emirates of recruiting mercenaries from Colombia and neighbouring African countries to fight alongside the RSF, with reports that more than 80 Colombian fighters are operating in el‑Fasher. Sudan’s Prime Minister has appealed to Spanish‑speaking communities to end the recruitment and deployment of mercenaries and to lift the siege. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions.
In response to this dire humanitarian crisis and the escalating war crimes, Arab Organisation for Human Rights in the UK (AOHR UK) is hosting a webinar to expose the severity of the catastrophe and call for accountability. Leading experts and practitioners who work on Sudan will share their analyses and experiences.
Discussion Points:
- The RSF siege of El‑Fasher and its humanitarian consequences, including surging food prices and widespread acute malnutrition among children.
- The use of foreign mercenaries, particularly Colombians financed by external actors, and their involvement in war crimes.
- The obstruction of humanitarian aid and the global indifference to mass suffering.
- Mechanisms for international accountability and protecting civilians in Sudan.
Date & Time:
Tuesday, 26 August 2025
17:00 (London Time) | 12:00 (New York Time) | 18:00 (Khartoum Time)
Speakers:
- Endre Stiansen- Former Norwegian Ambassador to the Sudan
- Timothy Michael Carney- Former U.S. Ambassador to Sudan
- Dr. Muhammed Ibrahim – Director of Strategic Planning at the Sudanese Ministry of Health
- Adama Gaye –Former Ecowas Director of Communications
- Patson Malisa- International Relations Advisor
- Martin Plaut – Former BBC Africa Editor
- Aicha Elbasri – Researcher at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in Doha and Former Spokeswoman for the UN-African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).
- Leni Kienzle – WFP Spokesperson in Sudan
We invite you to join this important webinar to stand in solidarity with the Sudanese people, shine a light on the crimes being committed against them, and push the international community to act swiftly to lift the siege and end the war crimes.
