The Archbishop of Canterbury is calling for an end to the violence in Sudan.

Most Rev Justin Welby made the comments after Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a major attack on el-Fasher in North Darfur. It came a day after the UN Security Council demanded the militia halt its siege of the city. Hundreds of people are feared to have been killed in the fighting.

In a statement, the Archbishop urged countries supporting the war through weapons and financing to channel their resources instead towards peace negotiations. He added that "a ceasefire is now of paramount importance. All those engaging in violence must cease."

He said that "following the return of the Bishops of Leeds and Bradford from the country last week, I am again in mourning for the millions of innocent people who have been killed, displaced or had their lives destroyed by this conflict. It is estimated that between 8 and 11 million people have been displaced, and that famine and other forms of insecurity are now inevitable. It is unconscionable that such immense suffering is allowed to continue, forgotten by most of the world.

“The strong links between the Church of England, specifically the Dioceses of Leeds and Salisbury, and the Episcopal Church of Sudan are built on Christian solidarity with sisters and brothers in faith – and the conviction that all the people of Sudan are of infinite value before God. I stand in solidarity with my brother, the Most Revd Ezekiel Kondo, Primate of Sudan. We will continue to work and pray for peace and justice – and for a reconciliation that makes security and stability possible.”

More than nine million people have fled their homes in Sudan since the fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF broke out in April 2023.

The war has created the worst humanitarian situation in the world with an estimated 756,000 people in Sudan facing catastrophic food shortages.