18th June 2015
I leave Sudan soon, after nearly 3 years here. It has been a hugely engaging, demanding, frustrating and rewarding experience. I have learnt a great deal; about Sudan, about my profession of diplomacy, and about the range and challenges of circumstances in which people live out their lives. Sudan has changed me. I leave with […]
30th May 2015
Chevening Scholarships are the UK government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations. The programme makes awards to outstanding scholars with leadership potential from around the world to study postgraduate courses at UK universities. Around 280 talented young Sudanese have benefitted from Chevening scholarships. I’ve invited them to describe their […]
Read more on Chevening scholarships: bridging the cultural divide | Reply
12th March 2015
Guest blog by Chloe Hamborg, Head of Political Section It has been educative and inspirational to hear comments of writers and activists from around the world this week on the theme of women’s rights, in recognition of International Women’s Day on 8 March. My “Week for Women” started on Saturday evening, attending an event at […]
Read more on International Women’s Day: My “Week for Women” | Reply
12th March 2015
Guest blog by Baroness Northover, UK’s Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Development I have just returned from Sudan, one of the first countries I have visited since my appointment as a minister in the UK Department for International Development (DFID). I’m pleased to have visited Sudan so early in my job. We have […]
Read more on DFID Minister’s reflections on Sudan Visit | Reply
22nd February 2015
– Guest blog by Hala Elhaj, Media Officer at the British Embassy in Khartoum – This month marks the 50th anniversary of the state visit of Queen Elizabeth to Sudan. On the 8th February 1965 Queen Elizabeth landed in Khartoum. She arrived at a time of great political tensions yet despite this Sudan gave Her […]
Read more on 50th Anniversary of the State Visit of Queen Elizabeth to Sudan | Reply
5th January 2015
2014 was a difficult year for the people of Sudan. As in most countries the principal concerns were probably jobs, standard of living and education. Sudan has had to deal with high inflation and the deteriorating business climate, with the knock-on effect on employment. Conflict continued, leading to deaths, displacements, human rights violations and damage […]
10th December 2014
Today marks the 56th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Activities around the world remind us of the universality of human rights – the basic, fundamental rights every person is entitled to without discrimination. It is an opportunity to celebrate progress, thank those who work to protect the most vulnerable, […]
Read more on Human rights are universal, even in Sudan | Reply
12th November 2014
A few days ago I went to an inspirational event. It was the launch of the Saleema Regional Forum. Saleema (which means intact, whole, as created by God) is the Sudanese campaign to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The event was packed with committed, energetic women. Prominent among them were Dr Samira Amin Ahmed, who […]
Read more on Every girl is born “Saleema”. Let every girl grow “Saleema” | Reply
3rd November 2014
I recently met Peter Hullah and his colleagues who lead the “Women’s Education Partnership” a small British NGO working in Sudan to support women’s literacy. They are doing great work and we are delighted to be able to give them some modest help. Here is their story. “Listen to the disadvantaged and displaced women and […]
16th October 2014
The theme of Blog Action Day this year is inequality. Inequality can take many forms. One of the most basic is economic inequality. This is a topical issue at the moment. The publication of Thomas Piketty’s “Capital in the twenty-first century” prompted a wide-ranging debate around his central argument that inequality has increased over the […]