AU maintains Sudan's suspension
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) – The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) on Thursday maintained its suspension of Sudan’s membership.
Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem had on Thursday, during an informal consultation session of the AUPSC, called on the AU to end the suspension of his country’s membership, warning that external interference and regional agendas are fueling the ongoing conflict.
His address marked the first time a Sudanese foreign minister had participated in an official AUPSC meeting since the AU suspended the country's membership in October 2021 following a military coup.
Thursday's AUPC meeting, however, endorsed the Sudanese National Initiative for Peace, presented by Prime Minister Kamil Idris on 22 December, 2025 and demanded an immediate end to foreign military support for the warring parties.
In a communiqué following its 1,330th meeting, the Council welcomed the return of the Sudanese transitional government to Khartoum from Port Sudan, where it temporarily relocated when the civil war broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The Sudanese news outlet, Sudan Tribune, reported that the AUPSC ministerial-level meeting, chaired by Egypt, reinforced the continental bloc’s refusal to recognise the parallel government established by the Sudan Founding Alliance (TASIS) and the RSF.
The AUPSC urged all member states and international partners to reject the rival administration, citing the need to protect Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Council described the Sudanese National Initiative for Peace plan, which covers a comprehensive ceasefire, civilian protection, security sector reform and national reconciliation, as the essential foundation for rebuilding the country’s social fabric.
The humanitarian situation drew concern from the ministers, who issued a stark warning regarding reported famine and starvation, particularly in the besieged city of El Fasher.
The Council condemned systematic killings and ethnic targeting attributed to the RSF in North Darfur and demanded unhindered humanitarian access. It further emphasised that there can be no sustainable military solution to the conflict.
In a move to increase pressure on external actors, the Council directed its sanctions sub-committee to collaborate with the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA) and AFRIPOL.
This joint effort aims to identify foreign entities that provide military or financial support to combatants and, within three months, propose measures to contain them.
The council also underscored the importance of the Quintet coordination mechanism, comprising the AU, the East African regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Arab League, the United Nations and the European Union, to ensure a coherent mediation process.
To bolster its on-the-ground engagement, the AU announced plans to reopen its liaison office in Sudan and to conduct a field mission to engage directly with local stakeholders.
The communiqué noted that the return of federal institutions to Khartoum marks a vital step toward restoring public services.
It appealed to the international community to urgently fulfil financial pledges made at previous donor conferences in Geneva, Paris and London to support both the Sudanese people and neighbouring countries hosting millions of refugees.
-0- PANA MA 13Feb2026
