The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 1228th meeting, held on 19 August 2024, on Briefing on the Situation in Sudan.

Council recalled its previous decisions and pronouncements on the situation in Sudan, in particular, Communiques [PSC/AHG/COMM.1218 (2024)] adopted at its 1218th meeting held at the level of Heads of State and Government on 21 June 2024; [PSC/AHG/COMM.1156 (2023)], adopted at its 1156th meeting also held at the level of Heads of State and Government on 27 May 2023; [PSC/PR/COMM.1149 (2023)] adopted at its 1149th meeting held on 16 April 2023; and Press Statement [PSC/PR/BR.1154 (2023)] adopted at its 1154th meeting held on 16 May 2023.

Council reaffirmed the AU's continued commitment to respecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity, national unity, and independence of the Republic of Sudan and reiterated its solidarity with the people of Sudan in their legitimate aspiration for the restoration of constitutional order through a civilian-led government.

Council took note of the opening remarks by H.E. Ambassador Tebelelo Alfred Boang, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Botswana to the AU and PSC Chairperson for the month of August 2024; the introductory statement by H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; and the briefing by H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Chairperson of the AU High-Level Panel for Sudan and AU High Representative for Silencing the Guns in Africa.

Council took note, with deep concern, of the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which has resulted in an unprecedented grave humanitarian crisis, indiscriminate killings of innocent civilians and wanton destruction of infrastructure, including facilities of diplomatic missions, in blatant violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law (IHL/IHRL) and warned the perpetrators that they will be held to account for their actions.

Council expressed deep concern over reports of inter-communal violence in various regions of Sudan, particularly, in Khartoum/Omdurman area and in Darfur, especially, in El Fasher and North Darfur, Gezira and Kordofan states, as well as the proliferation of weapons and, in this regard, called for the effective monitoring of the UN arms embargo.

Council strongly condemned the perpetration of violations against children, women and girls, including sexual and gender-based violence such as the systematic use of rape as a weapon of war.

Council demanded that the warring parties, namely the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), immediately and unconditionally stop the fighting and prioritize the interests of Sudan and its people.

Council reiterated that there can be no viable and sustainable military solution to the current crisis and that only a genuine inclusive all-Sudanese dialogue can lead to a consensual and sustainable solution.

Council commended the relentless effort being deployed by H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the PSC Ad Hoc Presidential Committee, especially his personal engagements with the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, towards reaching an immediate cessation of hostilities and a comprehensive ceasefire, in order to end the suffering of the Sudanese people. To this end, Council called upon all actors, including neighbouring countries, RECs/RMs and the International Community to support the work of the PSC Ad Hoc Presidential Committee and positively influence the parties to the conflict.

Council expressed deep concern over the dire humanitarian crisis and, in this regard, demanded the warring parties to create humanitarian corridors, in order to facilitate humanitarian access to the population in need, particularly women, children, people living with disabilities, and the elderly. In this regard, welcomed the opening of a border crossing from Chad to Nonn Danur via Adre for the next three months, and the commitments to allow humanitarian delivery through Dabbah, providing aid to Darfur and Kordofan. Council calls upon the two Parties to open up more humanitarian corridors, and for an indefinite period, to allow the safe and unhindered delivery of the much needed humanitarian assistance.

Council commemorated the International Humanitarian Day and, in this regard, paid tribute to the humanitarian workers in Sudan as well as other countries. Council commended AU Member States and international humanitarian actors and agencies for their assistance and appealed for the scaling up of humanitarian assistance to the people of Sudan and to all neighbouring countries currently hosting Sudanese refugees, in the spirit of solidarity; and urged the international partners to expedite the disbursement of funds pledged including during the Paris Humanitarian Conference on Sudan convened in April 2024. Council requested the AU Commission to expedite the operationalization of the AU Humanitarian Agency (AHA) in Uganda.

Council also commended the relentless efforts deployed by the AU High-Level Panel (HLPSudan) and IGAD towards finding a negotiated and consensual political solution to the conflict in Sudan, including through the convening, from 18 to 21 July 2024, and from 9 to 12 August 2024, in Addis Ababa, of the Inaugural and second Preparatory Meetings for the Inter-Sudanese Political Dialogue in preparation for an all-inclusive political dialogue to be organized in the near future.

Council expressed gratitude to all the Sudanese stakeholders who attended the last two consultations convened by the AU and IGAD to reflect on consensual ways and means of peacefully resolving the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan; and encouraged them to attend the upcoming AU/IGAD-facilitated all-inclusive Inter-Sudanese Political Dialogue.

Council welcomed the Sudan Women’s Peace Dialogue, convened by the AU Commission from 3 to 4 August 2024, in Kampala, Uganda, which called for all Sudanese women to be an integral part of all peace processes for Sudan, including in ceasefire negotiations, security arrangements, constitutional and governance processes, transitional justice, truth and healing processes, and humanitarian assistance.

Council commended the efforts deployed by the Arab Republic of Egypt, including through the convening in Cairo, on 6 July 2024, of a meeting of a broad spectrum of Sudanese political and civilian actors, which paved the ground for the Inter-Sudanese Dialogue preparatory consultations held in July and August 2024 at the AU Commission, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the auspices of the AU/IGAD.

Council also commended the efforts deployed by the Republic of Djibouti in its capacity as the Chair of IGAD, including the convening of the Second Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination on Peace Initiatives and Efforts in Sudan, as well as the Mediators Planning Retreat on the Situation in Sudan, held respectively, on 24 July 2024 and from 25 to 26 July 2004, in Djibouti.

The Council further commended the United Nations and the League of Arab States for their ongoing efforts to restore peace in Sudan and encouraged the rest of the international community to extend full support to the AU/IGAD efforts to organize an inclusive all-Sudanese political dialogue.

Council welcomed the efforts made to reconvene the Jeddah Process, in Geneva, Switzerland, with a view to reaching a comprehensive ceasefire and an end to the war, and urged the belligerents to participate actively in the Process and to fully cooperate in the implementation of all the agreements reached through the Process.

Council took note of the ongoing talks in Geneva, Switzerland, to end the Sudanese conflict, under the auspices of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America with the participation of the AU as an observer, and called on both warring parties to actively participate in the talks. Council strongly urged the warring parties to set aside their parochial interests, place the supreme interests of Sudan and its people above all else, give peace a chance and participate in the talks in good faith and to this end, underlined the critical role of neighbouring countries of Sudan to influence the belligerents.

Council reiterated its deep concern over the proliferation of mediation and peace initiatives and underlined the importance of enhanced coordination and complementarity of peace efforts through the AU, IGAD and neighboring countries collaboration; reaffirmed the central role of the AU, through the High-Level Panel, and the IGAD Special Envoy, in coordination with regional and international efforts to find a lasting solution to the current crisis in Sudan, under the AU Roadmap for the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of Sudan; and in the same vein, strongly urged all actors to ensure that their peace efforts are complementary and coordinated with the AU and its Roadmap.

Council also reiterated the call for renewed and accelerated actions by all parties, national stakeholders and the international community towards the realization of the six (6) pillars in the AU Roadmap.

Council, once again, condemned all forms of foreign interference in the conflict in Sudan, in flagrant violation of the PSC decisions and UN Security Council Resolution 1556 (2004); and in this context, reiterated its call for an immediate investigation, and identification of all actors fuelling the conflict, as well as all peace spoilers; and also reiterated its directive for the PSC Sub-Committee on Sanctions to liaise with the AU Commission and the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA) to identify all external actors supporting the warring factions militarily, financially and politically, as well as to make proposals on how to contain each of them within a stipulated timeframe not exceeding three (3) months from June 2024.

Council also reiterated the decision to undertake a mission of the PSC to Port Sudan to engage the parties towards peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Council agreed to remain actively seized of the matter.

COMMENTS