World News | UK Foreign Secretary leaves Pacific early to focus on Sudan

WELLINGTON, April 20 (AP) — British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly cut short a trip to the Pacific on Friday to return to Britain to deal with the deteriorating situation in Sudan.

Sudan’s military ruled out talks with the rival paramilitary forces on Thursday, saying it would only accept its surrender as the two sides continued to fight in central Khartoum and other parts of the country.

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The British High Commission said Cleverly had been working on the situation in Sudan from his office in Wellington, making a series of overnight calls to key partners.

Cleverly leaving New Zealand the day before he was due to meet his counterpart Nanaia Mahuta.

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He arrived in New Zealand earlier than scheduled on Thursday, his first official visit to the country, after skipping a planned visit to Samoa and flying directly from the Solomon Islands.

Cleverly said in a statement: “Due to the ongoing situation in Sudan, I regret that my visit has to be cut short. I have learned a great deal about the region, its opportunities and challenges.”

“I have spoken to Foreign Minister Mahuta and told her that I am very disappointed at having to leave early and we have agreed to reschedule as soon as possible,” he said. “I’m very much looking forward to coming back soon.”

When Cleverly returns to the UK, he will continue to oversee the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s response to the violence in Sudan, provide support to staff on the ground and provide consular services to British nationals, the High Commission said.

Britain and Sudan have historical ties. In an unusual arrangement, Britain and Egypt jointly ruled Sudan from 1899 until independence in 1956. But today, Sudan is not part of the 56 countries of the Commonwealth of Nations that includes many former British colonies.

Mahuta, who flew to Samoa on Wednesday to meet Cleverly and Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, said she would give Cleverly her full support.

Mahuta had earlier said that during her planned meeting with Cleverly, she would celebrate recent achievements in the bilateral relationship and discuss cooperation in the Pacific and global issues including climate change and the war in Ukraine.

New Zealand and the UK have agreed to a free trade agreement in 2021. (Associated Press)

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