The African Union has commenced a high-level panel discussion for terminating the war in Sudan

In recent weeks, the Sudanese army has reportedly regained some control of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) territory, and aims to establish a transitional government to tackle the RSF. Both the army and the RSF have been accused of committing humanitarian atrocities.

The African Union has posted some alarming statistics. Wilson Almeida Adao, Chairperson of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, claimed that the number of internally displaced persons rose by 27% in 2024, from 9 million to 11.5 million, with children making up over 53% of the displaced.

He claimed that admissions for severe acute malnutrition rose by 44% in 2024, with 431,015 children receiving treatment.

Chairperson of the panel Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas highlighted that a lack of external interference has prolonged the war since 15th April 2023. Humanitarian groups have seen the international community and its response to the Sudan crisis as poor, with Amnesty International and the United Nations both criticising its inadequacy.

At the beginning of this year, Hemedti and the RSF were accused by the US of genocide in Sudan. The RSF responded by accusing the US Biden administration of double standards, and failing to address the crisis. Now, Trump’s plan to disassemble all USAID staff by placing them on leave, postponed to February 14th, may have consequences for the conflict. The US foreign aid agency disbursed $464 million to Sudan in the 2023 fiscal year, though the country is not one of the top ten recipients in Africa of US foreign aid.

Dr. Chambas urged that “only inter-Sudanese political dialogue, not the military option, can end this war”. He demanded coordination between the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the eight country trade bloc in East Africa, and the African Union.

The impact of mass displacement into neighbouring countries was highlighted. Amb. Bankole Adeoye, the African Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, stated that “the political class is heavily divided, however we must stop the war in Sudan because it affects us all”. “Currently, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Chad are hosting thousands of refugees”, he claimed, “a war in Sudan is also a war in the Horn of Africa”. The decline of democratic practices in Africa was a concern of the discussion. Amb. Miguel Ntuntumu Evuna Andeme, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and Chair of the Peace and Security Council, urged for states to strengthen governance systems for early action, and to bolster conflict prevention. He advised that women, youth and the vulnerable are included in all processes.