UK refuses to follow US lead declaring genocide in Sudan The UK has refused to follow the US in declaring that a genocide is being committed in Sudan, but said those responsible for “atrocities” should be held to account.
Earlier this month, America accused Sudan’s Rapid Support Force rebel group and proxies of committing genocide in the country and imposed sanctions on the group’s leaders.
Responding to an urgent question from Conservative former minister Andrew Mitchell, Ms Dodds said: “The long-standing position of successive British governments is that it is for courts to decide whether genocide has occurred.
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said Sudan was “hurtling towards a man-made catastrophe on an unimaginable scale”, before adding: “Is it this Government’s intention to now go further on sanctions and to mirror the United States?”.
Foreign Office minister Anneliese Dodds told the Commons the UK Government’s position would be based on the International Criminal Court’s determination.
