Committee publication · Correspondence · 25 June 2026
Correspondence to the Minister of State for International Development and Africa relating to Follow-up on Committee’s evidence session on atrocity prevention, 25 June 2026
Summary
The International Development Committee chair writes to the Minister of State for International Development following an evidence session on 23 June 2026 regarding alleged Foreign Office failures to act on intelligence about mass atrocities in El Fasher. The committee requests a formal response to testimony from witnesses Nathaniel Raymond and Kate Fergusson, and asks what steps the department will take to investigate and prevent future failures in atrocity prevention.
Key findings
- Witnesses presented evidence that the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office allegedly failed to act on intelligence and policy proposals regarding impending mass atrocities in El Fasher
- The Government allegedly mishandled evidence in ways that may have embarrassed UK international partners
- The committee characterises the evidence as 'profoundly shocking' and describes it as among the most concerning accounts of Foreign Office failure on atrocity prevention it has heard
Tone
CriticalTopics
Key actors
Baroness Chapman of Darlington, Sarah Champion MP, Nathaniel Raymond, Kate Fergusson, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, International Development Committee
Notable line
“… if accurate, would be some of the most concerning accounts I have heard of Foreign Office failure to take seriously its commitments to atrocity prevention.”
Key Quotes
“This evidence was profoundly shocking and, if accurate, would be some of the most concerning accounts I have heard of Foreign Office failure to take seriously its commitments to atrocity prevention.”
“Parliament and the UK people deserve to know that its government did all it could to avert the massacre of tens of thousands of civilians”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗