On 27 May, the AUPSC held its 1156^th session at Heads of State and Government level, to discuss the situation in Sudan. In his opening remarks, the Chair of the AUPSC for the month of May, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, noted with grave concern the continuing conflict in Sudan, and the attendant humanitarian crisis despite the various regional and international ceasefire efforts.  In this regard, he recalled his own engagements with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Force (RSF) envoys, reiterating his advice that both parties to the conflict should do away with the politics of identity and concentrate on the politics of interest. He informed them that the full, unconditional and immediate cessation of hostilities is of utmost importance to allow “peaceful people to elect their leaders as owners of the country. The country does not belong to either the SAF or the RSF. It belongs to the people of Sudan”. He emphasized the need for harmonization and coordination of peace efforts to avoid duplication and overlap. On this score, President Museveni, stated that the AUC has set up the Expanded Mechanism on Sudan – as proposed in the draft AU de-escalation plan circulated ahead of the session for consideration - to try and develop measures leading to the cessation of hostilities and a resumption of the political process. He also proposed the consideration of the idea of appointing a high-level facilitator, or a panel of facilitators, who would work with the Sudanese civilian and political actors, to design an inclusive process of engagement towards the civilian democratic transition. AUC Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat addressed the meeting noting the AUC’s sustained efforts in de-escalating the conflict and briefed the AUPSC on the De-escalation Plan. The meeting was further addressed by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, as well as representatives of the President of the Union of Comoros and AU Chairperson for 2023, Azali Assoumani, and a representative of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.     

9. The UN Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Hanna Tetteh, delivered remarks on behalf of the UN Secretary-General. In her remarks, the Special Envoy noted with grave concern the ongoing fighting between the SAF and the RSF despite several ceasefire announcements and the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the conflict; she also emphasized the potential threat of destabilization for the whole region. The Special Envoy welcomed the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States to bring the parties to sign the Jeddah agreement for a short-term ceasefire and humanitarian arrangements and urged SAF and RSF to fulfill their commitments on the ceasefire. She also stressed the importance of joint political and mediation efforts to find a permanent solution to the war beyond the ceasefire. In this regard, the Special Envoy commended a joint effort of the AU, IGAD, the League of Arab States and the UN in support of the peace in Sudan as well as the AU de-escalation plan. She also emphasized the critical importance of coordinating such joint efforts in support of Sudan. In this regard, the Special Envoy proposed that the AU, IGAD, the League of Arab States and the UN jointly appoint a panel of three or four high-level personalities to help lead and coordinate mediation efforts. She also suggested that the Trilateral Mechanism (AU, IGAD, UN) could work to support the panel’s efforts. The Special Envoy concluded her remarks reassuring on the continued presence of the UN in Sudan and humanitarian operations during ongoing conflict.

On 27 May, the AUPSC adopted a communiqué at its 1156^th meeting of Heads of State and Government on the situation in Sudan. The communiqué reiterated the AUPSC’s solidarity with the people of Sudan and continued support in their aspiration to restore a constitutional order through a civilian-led government; expressed deep concern and condemned the ongoing “senseless and unjustified conflict” between the SAF and the RSF which resulted in an unprecedented dire humanitarian crisis with severe consequences for innocent civilians; demanded both sides to immediately ceasefire and embrace peaceful resolution of disputes; and emphasized that a military solution to the conflict would not be sustainable to Sudan and the entire Horn of Africa and welcomed instead dialogue and reconciliation. It called on the Sudanese stakeholders and the international community to support the implementation of the AU Roadmap for the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan towards silencing the guns in Sudan. Read also full communiqué here.