German minister says ‘Berlin document’ shows political solution possible for Sudan
April 16, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – German Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office Serap Güler said on Thursday that the consensus among civilian forces on the “Berlin document” confirms the possibility of ending the conflict through a political solution.
Sudanese political forces participating in the Berlin conference, invited by the Quintet Mechanism, signed a document paving the way for a unified civilian position to pressure for an end to the fighting. The document also includes the launch of a political process to address issues of governance and justice.
Military leaders previously used a political crisis among civilian forces as a pretext for a coup on October 25, 2021. While they later engaged in a process to hand over power to civilians, disputes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces triggered a full-scale war three years ago.
Güler told a press conference that the agreement reached by political groups is significant because it refutes the argument that civilian forces are too fractured to govern, demonstrating that a political solution to end the conflict is achievable.
She described the Berlin conference as a success despite acknowledging a lack of progress regarding a truce or ceasefire. She emphasized that the readiness of civilian forces for a political process confirms it is time for the warring parties to reach a peace agreement.
The minister noted that the participation of civilian forces in Berlin followed an invitation from the Quintet Mechanism, which includes the African Union, the European Union, the United Nations, IGAD, and the Arab League.
The Berlin Conference was held to coincide with the third anniversary of the war’s start. It was organized by Germany, France, Britain, the United States, the African Union, and the European Union, with delegations from 60 countries and 50 non-governmental organizations attending.
Donors at the conference pledged 1.5 billion euros to support humanitarian needs for the Sudanese people and refugees in neighbouring countries. Of this amount, 811 million euros were committed by the European Union and its member states.
Güler said the conference confirms that the international community is placing clear pressure on the warring parties to end the conflict. She added that the gathering serves as a message that the world cares about the situation in Sudan.
The minister stated that the donor pledges signal that the international community has not forgotten those who are suffering. She said the focus in the coming period will shift to the conflicting parties to ensure the opening of safe corridors for aid delivery.
Approximately 34 million people in Sudan currently require humanitarian assistance, including 21 million in need of healthcare. United Nations estimates indicate that more than 4 million people are suffering from acute malnutrition in 2026.