A visit to Britain by Port Sudan authority Prime Minister Kamil Idris descended into controversy this week after protests, clashes and police scrutiny involving members of his delegation overshadowed what supporters of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s administration had hoped would become a diplomatic breakthrough.
The Port Sudan authorities, aligned with General al-Burhan’s SAF and backed by remnants of the former ruling Islamist establishment, have faced mounting international criticism over the war in Sudan, which has devastated large parts of the country and displaced millions.
Kamil Idris’ appearance at Oxford was seen by Port Sudan-aligned media as part of a broader effort to rehabilitate the image of the de facto administration internationally and secure greater political legitimacy in Western capitals.
But the visit quickly spiralled into a public relations disaster.
Sudanese anti-war activists and members of the diaspora staged demonstrations outside the University of Oxford during Idris’ visit, accusing the Port Sudan authorities and General al-Burhan’s SAF of prolonging the conflict and blocking meaningful pathways toward a comprehensive political settlement.
The protests escalated after individuals allegedly linked to Idris’ delegation and figures associated with the Sudanese embassy in London were accused of confronting protesters directly.
Videos circulated widely on social media showed chaotic scenes and physical altercations outside Oxford Union buildings, with activists alleging that women protesters were among those assaulted during the confrontations.
Reports in Sudanese media said British police intervened and opened complaints and inquiries involving some individuals linked to the delegation.
The fallout reportedly extended into British political circles.
A planned meeting between Idris’ delegation and the British All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sudan — which includes MPs from both Labour and Conservative parties — was reportedly cancelled following the controversy and backlash generated by the incident.
The Oxford Union also faced criticism for hosting Idris to speak on leadership and peacebuilding while Sudan’s war enters its fourth year amid widespread allegations of atrocities, bombardment campaigns and humanitarian collapse.
Bashir Ahmed, former president of the Sudanese community in Oxford, said the invitation represented an attempt to “normalise” authorities accused of overseeing mass displacement, abuses and war crimes.
Political commentator Al-Waleed Adam Madibo described the events as evidence of “a collapse in the meaning of diplomacy,” arguing that representatives of the Port Sudan authorities had exported Sudan’s wartime political violence into international academic spaces.
Further controversy emerged after reports claimed Sudan’s diplomatic mission in London attempted to identify one of the accused individuals, Abu Bakr Shabo, as affiliated with the embassy in what activists alleged was an effort to provide diplomatic protection or legal cover.
The incident sparked outrage among Sudanese activists in Britain, many of whom accused the Port Sudan authorities and General al-Burhan’s camp of attempting to intimidate critics abroad while simultaneously seeking international legitimacy.
While Port Sudan-aligned outlets portrayed the Oxford visit as a diplomatic success, critics said the aftermath instead exposed the growing reputational burden facing General al-Burhan’s administration internationally.
British police have not yet issued a formal statement regarding the investigations or potential legal measures connected to the incident.
