Addis Ababa, South Africa – The African Union (AU) upheld its decision to suspend Sudan’s membership, which it imposed on October 27, 2021,
following the coup by Sudanese military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against the civilian government.
The decision was made during a meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa, reaffirming the call for an immediate ceasefire
and a humanitarian truce to pave the way for an inclusive, Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned dialogue.
A political settlement is the solution
In its statement, the African Union emphasized that a military solution to the ongoing conflict in Sudan is unsustainable and that a political settlement is the best way to address the root causes of the crisis, ensuring respect for Sudan’s sovereignty and national unity.
The statement stressed the importance of restoring a democratically elected civilian government and giving peace
a genuine chance, as well as facilitating unimpeded humanitarian access and protecting humanitarian workers.
The Sudanese Civil Forces Alliance “Sumud” welcomed the Union’s statement,
but called for a more robust and clear stance, stressing that the military coup that has been ongoing
since October 2015 still represents the main cause of the crisis and hinders any efforts to restore civilian legitimacy.
Sharif Mohamed Osman, the political secretary of the Sudanese Congress Party,
explained that the coup has exacerbated the armed conflict since April 2023,
noting that the current authorities’ initiatives lack full support from all parties involved and fail to end the war.
Rising rates of famine and hunger
For his part, former Sudanese minister Mahdi al-Khalifa described the statement as balanced,
as it upheld the principles of the African Union and stressed the need to monitor the situation in Sudan.
He emphasized that a military solution is not possible and called for an immediate humanitarian truce and a genuine,fully Sudanese-led political process.
These developments come amidst the continued economic and humanitarian deterioration in Sudan,
including rising rates of famine and hunger in areas like El Fasher,
and growing fears that the humanitarian crisis will worsen if urgent measures are not taken to stop the conflict and restore stability.
