AUHIP, IGAD Special Envoy urge return to civilian rule in Sudan
February 23, 2025 (ADDIS ABABA) – The African Union High Level Panel (AUHIP) on Sudan and the IGAD Special Envoy to Sudan have backed calls for a Sudanese- owned and Sudanese-led process that reflects the aspirations and welfare of the Sudanese people, and returns the country to civilian-led constitutional order.
In a joint statement issued on Friday, both the AUHIP and the IGAD Special Envoy stressed the need for peace, saying there is no military solution to Sudan’s crisis.
The call came as Sudanese civilian political groups convened at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia between 19 – 21 February, 2025 to discuss the way forward towards an inclusive Inter-Sudanese Political Dialogue.
The meeting, the statement noted, reaffirmed that the situation in Sudan remains fluid and increasingly complex, with recent developments further deepening divisions and complicating efforts to achieve a unified political solution.
“We acknowledge the Sudanese groups’ strong endorsement of an AU-IGAD led process as the framework for achieving a credible and durable political settlement,” it added.
Also discussed was the urgent to address humanitarian concerns and secure an immediate ceasefire while simultaneously laying the groundwork for a long-term political resolution.
“The AU High Level Panel on Sudan and the IGAD Special Envoy to Sudan remain fully engaged in facilitating dialogue among all parties,” it stressed, urging all stakeholders to work together in good faith to bridge current divides and take decisive steps toward peace.
The statement lauded the outgoing AU Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, for his “dedication to durable peace in Sudan.”
On April 15th, 2023, violent clashes erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, resulting in the displacement of more than 11.5 million people, including internally displaced people (IDPs), asylum seekers and refugees.
This conflict exacerbated many of Sudan’s existing challenges, including ongoing conflicts, disease outbreaks, economic and political instability and climate emergencies.
(ST)