Third anniversary of the outbreak of war in Sudan: Switzerland continues to provide humanitarian aid and seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict
Bern, 15.04.2026 — Switzerland is allocating around CHF 23 million in 2026 to support people in Sudan and the region with the humanitarian emergency they are facing. This was announced by Tim Enderlin, the head of the Peace and Human Rights Division at the FDFA and head of the Swiss delegation at the Sudan Conference in Berlin. Switzerland’s support focuses on securing food supplies and livelihoods, the protection of the civilian population and peacebuilding. In December 2025, in view of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Sudan and neighbouring countries – to which many people have fled from Sudan – Parliament approved an emergency aid credit of CHF 50 million.
In April 2019, the long-standing military dictator Omar El Bashir was overthrown by an alliance of civil society and the military and replaced by a civil-military coalition government. As early as October 2021, the military staged a coup and ousted the civilian political forces from the government. The members of the military subsequently fell out and tensions between them escalated in April 2023.
Since then, Sudan has been embroiled in an armed conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Today, the centre of the country, including the capital Khartoum, and the north-east are controlled by the SAF, whilst the west and south are controlled by the RSF.
The consequences of the war have been devastating for the people of Sudan. It has claimed tens of thousands of lives and triggered a famine. Over 33 million people – around two thirds of the entire population – are dependent on humanitarian aid. Around 13 million people are displaced, 4 million of whom are in the neighbouring countries of Egypt, South Sudan, Libya and Chad.
Sexual violence is widespread and is being used as a tactic of war, and there are numerous violations of international humanitarian law. The country’s infrastructure has been severely damaged, the health, education and economic systems have collapsed, and ethnic tensions within the Sudanese population have intensified. Switzerland calls on all parties to fulfil their commitments under international humanitarian law.
On the third anniversary of the outbreak of war, discussions were held in Berlin on possibilities for a peaceful resolution of the conflict and further humanitarian aid for those affected by the war in Sudan and its neighbouring countries. The head of the Swiss delegation, Tim Enderlin, announced that Switzerland would make CHF 23 million available this year from its international cooperation budget for Sudan and the region. Since the outbreak of the war, Switzerland has thus allocated around CHF 213 million to support the population in Sudan and neighbouring countries.
Switzerland is working with various partners – UN agencies, the ICRC, international non-governmental organisations and local organisations – to deliver aid on the ground. In December 2025, Parliament approved an emergency aid credit of CHF 50 million requested by the Federal Council. The federal government has used this amount to combat hunger and malnutrition, protect the civilian population and support displaced persons in Sudan and neighbouring countries.
In addition to ensuring food security and livelihoods and the protection of the civilian population, Switzerland is also committed to strengthening the rule of law and to a negotiated political settlement to the war. To this end, it has been hosting and leading confidential dialogues with all political factions in Sudan since the start of the war. In particular, it also enables women to add their voices to international negotiation initiatives. Within the FDFA, this work is the responsibility of the Peace and Human Rights Division.