Sudan’s military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has linked accepting mediation from the African Union (AU) to the reinstatement of the country’s full membership in the organisation. While expressing “confidence in the African Union’s potential solutions,” Burhan emphasised that this is contingent on “Sudan regaining its full membership and the organisation treating it as such.”
This condition comes as the AU’s High-Level Panel on the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan met with Burhan on Sunday. This panel, established in January, aims to facilitate dialogue, restore constitutional order, and involve all relevant parties, including civilians, military groups, and regional/international actors, in the peace process. Their goal is to achieve an inclusive solution that swiftly restores peace and stability in Sudan.
It’s important to remember that Sudan was suspended from the AU following the October 2021 military takeover, which saw Burhan and General Hamdane Daglo, commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), remove the civilian government. This move, widely condemned as a coup, led to ongoing protests in the country.
Burhan’s demand for full membership reinstatement adds a new layer of complexity to the already challenging situation in Sudan. It remains to be seen how the AU will respond to this condition and whether it will hinder or facilitate the ongoing efforts towards peace and stability in the country.