The African Peace and Security Council calls for the reopening of the African Union office in Sudan
The African Peace and Security Council called on the Rapid Support Forces to urgently lift the siege imposed on the city of El Fasher and ensure safe and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance. It also strongly condemned the violent clashes and the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur.
The Council called on the Chairperson of the African Union Commission to reopen the African Union Liaison Office in Sudan, in Port Sudan.
In a statement issued at the 1235th session of the Peace and Security Council held on 9 October 2024 to consider the report of the field mission to Egypt and Port Sudan conducted in early October, the Council stressed the need for further communication between the African Union, the Sudanese authorities and stakeholders; on the suspension of Sudan’s activities in the African Union and expressed its aspiration to hold informal discussions between the Council and representatives of the Government of the Republic of the Sudan.
The Council stressed the pivotal importance of conducting a genuine and inclusive dialogue for all Sudanese, and called on the African Union Commission to continue facilitating dialogue between the Sudanese parties and coordinating with other efforts in this regard.
The Council called for the importance of engaging with the Government of Sudan officials regarding the two proposals presented by the Head of the Transitional Sovereignty Council: ending the war and establishing agreed-upon assembly areas/points; and restoring a democratic/civilian-led political transition.
It welcomed the Head of the Transitional Sovereignty Council’s willingness to form a civilian-led transitional government; acknowledged that Sudan, as a founding member of the African Union, faces serious threats that are likely to have spillover effects on the continent, and stressed the need for the African Union to redouble its efforts to support and engage with Sudan;
It also stressed that any solution to the current crisis in Sudan must be owned by Sudan; and strongly rejected any external interference in the internal affairs of Sudan, which can only prolong the conflict, and called on the international community to coordinate all efforts under the leadership of the African Union, in close coordination with the IGAD and neighboring countries.
The Council reiterated that there is no viable and sustainable military solution to the conflict, and renewed its call on the warring parties to immediately and unconditionally cease all hostilities, permanently cease fire, return to negotiations, and seek a political settlement to the crisis in order to end the suffering of the Sudanese people.
It called on the warring parties to implement the agreements reached in the Jeddah Declaration of 11 May 2023 on humanitarian access, protection of civilians, and withdrawal from civilian homes and buildings; and reiterated its emphasis on the importance of preserving Sudanese state institutions.
The Council strongly condemned the violence in Sudan, including widespread and systematic sexual and gender-based violence such as the use of rape as a weapon of war, as well as violations against children, looting of humanitarian supplies, destruction of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, and the occupation of civilian buildings and homes and the forced displacement of their owners.
The Council welcomed the decision of the Government of Sudan to open the Adre border crossing from Chad to North Darfur and the commitments to allow humanitarian aid to cross through Dabba; In the same context, he called on the two parties to the conflict to facilitate the opening of more humanitarian corridors for an indefinite period to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid.