The African Union: The crisis in Sudan threatens the existence of the country and the entire region

Concurrent with renewed clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum, with the end of a 24-hour truce proposed by Saudi-US mediation, African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Moussa Fakī Muḥammad has declared that the crisis engulfing Sudan poses a serious threat to the country’s existence and to the region as a whole, if it is not resolved “immediately.”

This came in a speech delivered yesterday at the 14th Summit of the Intergovernmental Organization for Development in East Africa (IGAD), hosted by Djibouti, which discussed “a range of issues critical to the peace, security and development of the region” and the crisis in Sudan between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The African Commission has already spoken of its intention to develop a political roadmap to end the Sudanese conflict, which will be announced shortly.

“The extreme gravity of the violent crisis engulfing the brotherly Sudan and the serious threats it poses to the existence of this country and the region as a whole are clear,” said the AU Commission Chairperson.

“All analysts agree that unless the war is stopped immediately, there will be civil war, chaos and the Sudanese state will collapse completely,” he said.

The Sudanese crisis requires swift action, united action and strong solidarity from the governments of the African Union, he said.

“I call for full unity among regional and continental organizations, the Intergovernmental Organization for Development and the African Union, ” he said, adding that this is “an indispensable condition for our effective solidarity with Sudan.”

“Observers say the AU is likely to play a leading role in the Sudanese crisis, with key mediators the United States and Saudi Arabia frustrated by their efforts so far to reach a meaningful de-escalation of the Jeddah negotiations, paving the way for a political settlement between the conflicting parties.”

Since May 6th, Saudi Arabia and the United States have been sponsoring talks between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, which resulted in the first agreement between the two sides in Jeddah to commit to protecting civilians. More than one truce was declared during which violations and recriminations occurred between the conflicting parties, prompting Riyadh and Washington to suspend negotiations.

“Both sides accuse the Sudanese of starting the fighting first, and committing violations during a series of truces that failed to end the clashes that have continued since April 15, leaving hundreds of dead and thousands wounded among civilians, in addition to a new wave of displacement and asylum in one of the world’s poorest countries.”