Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have if any, to call a special session of the UN Human Rights Council regarding the situation in Sudan.

Together with partners, we are seeking a special session of the UN Human Rights Council as soon as possible in order to discuss the situation. The UK strongly condemns the military coup d'état and arrests of civilian members of Sudan's transitional government on 25 October. We have called on the security forces to immediately release those they have unlawfully detained. The Minister for Africa condemned this act in the strongest terms in the House of Commons on 25 October. We have since made public statements, including as the Troika with US/Norway on 26 October, calling for the restoration of transitional institutions, release of detainees and protection of civilians. Over the past two years, the UK has taken a leading role to support Sudan on their delicate path from oppressive autocratic rule to freedom and democracy. The actions of the military represents a betrayal of the Sudanese people and their journey to democracy.