The German Embassy in Khartoum was shut down on 15 April 2023 and will remain closed until further notice. The German Embassies in Cairo, Addis Ababa and Nairobi are now responsible for processing visa applications that would have been submitted there.

Germany has built up a considerable amount of trust in the Sudan. After the overthrow of al‑Bashir in April 2019 and the formation of a civilian-led transitional government in August 2019, Germany became involved at an early stage with a view to supporting the democratic transition. Then Foreign Minister Maas and Federal President Steinmeier each travelled to the country – in September 2019 and February 2020, respectively. The Sudan Partnership Conference, which was co‑hosted by Germany in June 2020 and that sought to provide political and financial support for the transition, mobilised funding to the tune of 1.8 billion US dollars. Germany was a part of the debt relief effort and also relaunched its bilateral development cooperation.

In reaction to the military coup of October 2021, however, Germany suspended its support, both in the sphere of bilateral intergovernmental cooperation and at multilateral level. To alleviate the suffering of people since the war broke out in April 2023, Germany in 2023 alone made available 250 million euro in humanitarian assistance for the Sudan and its neighbouring countries, which have seen an influx of millions of refugees. Development cooperation projects that promote food security, help meet people’s basic needs and strengthen social resilience are – as far as the security situation permits – continuing to be implemented. Germany supports the endeavours of the African Union, the IGAD regional organisation and neighbouring countries to bring an end to the conflict in the Sudan. Due to severe human rights violations committed by both parties to the armed conflict, Germany has in the Human Rights Council lobbied for an expansion of the mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, as well as for a fact-finding mission in the country.

Cultural relations have been on hold since fighting broke out in April 2023; the Goethe-Institut remains closed.