The African Union on Tuesday welcomed a peace initiative presented by Sudan’s transitional authorities to the United Nations Security Council, urging broad-based dialogue and stronger international support to end the country’s devastating conflict.
In a statement, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf described the proposal as a “comprehensive and forward-looking framework” that reflects a clear understanding of the scale of Sudan’s crisis and a genuine commitment to ending hostilities.
Youssouf said the initiative demonstrated resolve to halt violence, ease humanitarian suffering and preserve Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity after more than two years of war that has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions.
“The African Union attaches great importance to the political, humanitarian and security dimensions of the initiative,” he said, calling them a credible foundation for sustainable peace.
Sudan has been locked in conflict since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, plunging the country into what the United Nations has described as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
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The AU chairperson said meaningful engagement with the proposal was essential to any comprehensive solution, stressing that it could help end armed conflict, restore security and stability, and protect Sudan’s social cohesion.
Youssouf voiced strong support for the initiative’s call for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, protection of civilians and unhindered humanitarian access across the country, where aid deliveries have been repeatedly obstructed by insecurity.
He also welcomed provisions addressing the needs of refugees and internally displaced people, as well as plans for disarmament, security sector reform, national reconciliation and post-war reconstruction.
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“These elements are indispensable to rebuilding trust, repairing the social fabric and consolidating a unified Sudanese state,” he said.
The AU chairperson further underlined the importance of an inclusive political process rooted in transitional justice, national reconciliation and accountability for victims.
“A guaranteed and inclusive process, anchored in redress for victims and broad political participation, is vital to achieving lasting peace and preventing a return to violence or fragmentation,” Youssouf said.
Reiterating the African Union’s long-standing stance, he stressed that any political transition must be led by Sudanese actors themselves, with dialogue aimed at forging national consensus on governance and unity within a single constitutional framework.
Youssouf also highlighted the need for free, fair and internationally supervised elections as a key step toward fulfilling the Sudanese people’s aspirations for democracy and long-term stability, after decades of political turmoil and military rule.
The African Union has been working alongside regional and international partners to help broker a resolution to the conflict, though repeated mediation efforts have so far failed to secure a lasting ceasefire.
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Youssouf said the AU stood ready to deepen coordination with the United Nations, the Arab League, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and other international partners to support peace efforts.
He reaffirmed the continental body’s “steadfast commitment” to Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as to regional and international peace and security.
The renewed diplomatic push comes amid growing international concern over the war’s spillover effects, including cross-border displacement, regional instability and mounting humanitarian needs across the Horn of Africa.
Aid agencies estimate that more than half of Sudan’s population now requires humanitarian assistance, while millions have fled to neighbouring countries, straining already fragile systems.
The African Union has repeatedly warned that a prolonged conflict risks permanently fracturing Sudan, underscoring the urgency of translating diplomatic initiatives into concrete action on the ground.
