France aims for summit to break silence around Sudan war

The French government says it hopes an international conference on Sudan being held in Paris will break the wall of silence around the year-long conflict.

France's foreign minister, Stéphane Séjourné, said the Sudanese people had been victims of indifference.

He said the war between the army and paramilitaries had inflicted massive suffering.

France has organized the gathering with Germany and the EU to raise desperately needed humanitarian funds and support mediation efforts.

The civil war has displaced millions, triggered waves of killings, and brought Sudan to the brink of famine.

Critics say the international response has been pitiful, while the UN's response plan has received only a fraction of the funds it requires.