AU demands ‘all-inclusive peace process’ to end Sudan’s conflict
The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) recommended an all-inclusive and consolidated peace process to end the conflict in Sudan.
The PSC concerns emerge from the ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, citing the proliferation of actors and mediation initiatives which it said would not serve the interests of the collective will of the Sudanese people.
“[PSC] underscores the overriding importance of a single, inclusive and consolidated peace process for Sudan, coordinated under the joint auspices of the African Union, IGAD, League of Arab States and UN, along with like-minded partners, while noting that a multiplicity and proliferation of mediation initiatives would not serve the interests of the collective will of the Sudanese people,” it noted partly in a communique.
The PSC convened its 1156th session at the level of Heads of State and Government to consider the situation in Sudan on Saturday.
The meeting was chaired by Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, who is also acting in his capacity as the Chairperson of the PSC of the AU for the month of May 2023.
Addressing the summit, the President of the Republic of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi stressed the utmost importance of close coordination with neighbouring states to solve the crisis in Sudan, on grounds that they are the most affected and most keen to end the crisis at the soonest.
PSC commended the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for its efforts to swiftly resolve the conflict in Sudan immediately.
It also expressed unwavering support to the IGAD 3-member High-Level Committee led by Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan and Dr. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti.
Although the PSC appreciated the efforts deployed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America in facilitating the peace process in Sudan, and welcomed the signing of the Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan and the Agreement on a Short-Term Ceasefire and Humanitarian Arrangements by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on May 11, 2023, and May 20, 2023, respectively, in Jeddah, there is a feeling that the region needs to be much more involved.
It emphasised the need for IGAD and the AU to strengthen coordination to enable Africa to speak with one voice.
“[PSC] endorses the initiative of the chairperson to dispatch emissaries to the neighbouring states of Sudan and the Horn of Africa region, in strengthening the search for a common approach to finding a sustainable solution to the multi-layered crisis in Sudan,” the body noted.
Involve the neighbours
The PSC’s concerns come days after IGAD’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Workneh Gebeyeh stressed the importance of involving Sudan’s neighbours during the May 22, UN Security Council briefing. The African Members in the UN Security Council (A3) also reaffirmed ‘the central role of the AU, IGAD and the Trilateral Mechanism in stabilising Sudan.
PSC also underscored the overriding importance of a single, inclusive and consolidated peace process for Sudan, coordinated under the joint auspices of the AU, IGAD, League of Arab States and UN, along with like-minded partners.
The PSC reiterated the necessity for inclusivity, adequate representation and participation of Sudanese stakeholders, and African regional and continental bodies in the negotiations towards a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire and the political transition in Sudan.
Despite that, the key actors who participated during the 20th April 2023 AU Ministerial Special Session on Sudan called by the Chairperson of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat agreed to ‘coordinate, collaborate, and harmonise their respective initiatives to resolve the conflict’, the initiatives are not only uncoordinated but also at times competing.
Since the conflict erupted in Sudan on April 15, 2023, between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), ten announcements for a truce have been declared many of which represent the parties’ expression of readiness to observe the declared ceasefire.
However, almost all of the ceasefires did not hold. The latest of these is the Short-Term Ceasefire and Humanitarian Arrangements signed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on May 20.
