The Bishop of Leeds has said a city in war-torn Sudan felt safer than London.
Whilst speaking on Sudan in the House of Lords, the Rt Rev Nick Baines said: “Failure to address the catastrophe [in Sudan] now will only lead to increasingly uncontrollable consequences elsewhere, further destabilisation of an already fragile region … mass irregular migration will be a consequence and so on.
“I have to say Port Sudan when I was there was safer than London.”
“But we need physical, visible presence, even if it’s only on a regular visit. Other ambassadors and envoys are doing this.”
Port Sudan is a city on the Red Sea, and the seat for Sudan’s internationally recognised military-backed government. Its airport is the only one in the country functioning for international civilian travel.
The Foreign Office has advised against travel to Sudan after war broke out in April 2023. Bishop Nick visited the country for a week this summer. The British embassy in Khartoum is closed, and the Foreign Office report no British consular staff to be working there.
The Bishop’s team have told Premier he is unavailable for further comment.