Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to (1) the African Union, and (2) other bodies, to broker new peace negotiations following the recent release of political prisoners in Sudan.

On 30 May, the British Ambassador to Sudan welcomed the lifting of the state of emergency and release of detainees as important steps to help create a favourable environment for political talks. We reiterated this at the UN Security Council (UNSC) on 3 June, but continue to call for all those detained arbitrarily to be released, for civil and political freedoms to be respected, and for an end to violence against protestors. At the UNSC, we also expressed our support for talks facilitated by the UN, African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development; a message reiterated in a tweet by the Minister for Africa on 8 June.