African Union Welcomes Sudanese Dialogue Initiative to End War

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — The African Union Commission has welcomed a new initiative aimed at facilitating Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue inside Sudan, as the bloc renewed calls for an end to the country’s armed conflict and the restoration of civilian rule.

The African Union said its leadership had, since the outbreak of the Sudan crisis in April 2023, sought to bridge divisions among Sudanese stakeholders and create conditions conducive to ending the fighting and restoring peace and stability.

The Commission said it had consistently called for the preservation of Sudan’s unity and national institutions, while urging efforts to consolidate a democratic state.

Against that backdrop, the AU welcomed the launch of an initiative to facilitate dialogue among Sudanese stakeholders inside the country under the supervision of an independent committee of Sudanese elders.

The bloc said the success of the political process would depend on broad consultations involving Sudan’s civil society, political groups and other social actors.

It called for the dialogue to be based on the principles of inclusivity and genuine Sudanese ownership and leadership, stressing that the process should reflect the aspirations of Sudanese people.

The AU said the ultimate objective should be the emergence of a united, sovereign and peaceful Sudan governed by legitimate civilian institutions.

It also called for the establishment of a single national security architecture and effective mechanisms for resolving political and social disputes through peaceful means.

The Commission said the new initiative reinforced the African Union’s roadmap for Sudan as well as the work of the Quintet Mechanism, describing the two tracks as part of a coherent strategy led by Sudanese stakeholders.

Sudan has been gripped by a devastating conflict since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, triggering a major humanitarian crisis and displacing millions of people.

The African Union has repeatedly called for a political solution to the conflict, warning that a sustainable settlement must be based on dialogue and an inclusive process that allows Sudanese stakeholders to determine the country’s political future.

GAROWE ONLINE