Addis Ababa / Nyala, February 13 (Darfur24)
Sudan’s efforts to end its suspension from the African Union gained renewed momentum this week during high-level consultations in Addis Ababa, even as the Sudanese Founding Alliance “TASIS” sharply criticized the African Peace and Security Council’s latest statement, accusing it of granting political legitimacy to military authorities.
Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mohi El-Din Salem, held meetings in Addis Ababa with senior regional officials aimed at mobilizing support to lift Sudan’s freeze within the continental body. On Thursday, he met Mahmoud Youssef, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and also received the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.
Salem additionally took part in informal ministerial consultations of the African Union Peace and Security Council on Sudan, the country’s first such participation since its membership was suspended five years ago. The session was chaired by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty, who described the meeting as an opportunity for direct dialogue and stressed that Sudan’s stability is a regional necessity.
During the consultations, Salem called for lifting Sudan’s suspension, briefing council members on political and humanitarian developments and urging coordinated efforts toward de-escalation, humanitarian access, and a comprehensive civilian-led process.
In Nyala, however, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Peace Government affiliated with TASIS rejected the council’s February 12 statement, arguing that it contradicts the principles of the African Union, particularly provisions rejecting the recognition of military takeovers.
The ministry said the council’s description of Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s administration as a “transitional government” confers legitimacy lacking a constitutional basis, noting that prior negotiation frameworks emphasized restoring a civilian-led transitional period.
It also questioned the council’s neutrality after it welcomed a proposed political “roadmap” previously presented to the UN Security Council, and criticized calls to establish an AU liaison office in army-controlled areas, describing the move as an attempt to bypass Sudan’s suspension following the October 2021 political crisis.
The TASIS-aligned ministry urged AU member states and participants in the upcoming continental summit to reject the council’s statement, saying it undermines the union’s founding principles.
Diplomatic sources said the Peace and Security Council did not reach a consensus on lifting Sudan’s suspension, despite Salem’s lobbying efforts.
Sudan has been suspended from the African Union since 2021, and the debate over reinstatement continues to reflect wider divisions over governance, legitimacy, and the future political framework for the country.