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Sudan's army chief pushes for AU reinstatement

Sudan's Sovereign Council Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan arrives to board an airplane at Port Sudan airport, heading to South Sudan, on September 4, 2023. (Photo: AFP)

By Foreign Reporter | 04 Mar 2024

Following the military takeover on October 25, 2021, which sparked conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, the African Union suspended Sudan's membership.

In Port Sudan, Sudan's Sovereign Council Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has tied his acceptance of the African Union's proposed solutions to the nation's conflict to the condition of Sudan's full reinstatement of membership in the continental bloc.

Following the military takeover on October 25, 2021, which sparked conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the African Union suspended Sudan's membership.

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In response, the AU established a high-level mediation group aimed at facilitating a return to stability in the region.

On Sunday, the junta leader convened a meeting with members of the continental body High-Level Panel on the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan, chaired by Mohamed Ibn Chambas.

The panel also comprised former Ugandan Vice President Speciosa Wandira and former Special Representative of the AU Commission in Somalia Francisco Madeira.

According to a statement from the Sovereignty Council, General Abdel Fattah conveyed Sudan's confidence in the AU's potential solutions, emphasising that this confidence hinges on Sudan regaining its full membership and being treated as such by the organisation.

He further explained that the events on October 25, 2021, constituted the dissolution of the partnership between the military and civilian components due to their inability to reach a consensus rather than a coup.

The October 2021 takeover, orchestrated by General Abdel Fattah and the military, involved the removal of the civilian government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and the detention of its leaders.

Condemned by AU

The move was vehemently condemned by the African Union, the United Nations and the international community, as a coup.

The statement also highlighted the general's discussion of the subsequent rebellion and human rights violations attributed to the RSF.

He stressed the importance of the RSF withdrawing its troops from occupied towns and villages as a crucial step towards resolving the conflict.

The RSF, a paramilitary force, expanded its control across several regions, including four out of five Darfur states, Gezira state, parts of Greater Kordofan, and the capital, Khartoum.

Reports of human rights abuses accompanied this expansion.

According to the statement, Chambas reaffirmed the AU's dedication to ending the conflict and fostering stability in Sudan.

He underscored the delegation's engagement with all pertinent stakeholders, including diverse political factions.

The three-member mechanism was established by the AU Commission in January 2024 to facilitate dialogue, restore constitutional order, and work collaboratively with Sudanese stakeholders and the international community towards lasting peace.

More than 1.7 million people have fled to other countries surrounding Sudan. In total, 10.7 million people have been displaced by the Sudan crisis.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is increasingly concerned that more refugees will cross to Chad from Darfur in the coming weeks amid a worrying lack of food and other essentials.