AU, IGAD welcome Quad’s Sudan peace plan amid government scepticism

September 14, 2025 (ADDIS ABABA) – The African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) welcomed a proposal from the Quad group for a new peace process in Sudan on Sunday. This position contrasts sharply with the Sudanese government’s recent response.

In a joint statement, the AU Commission and IGAD said the Quad’s position “fully aligns” with their own roadmaps for peace. They specifically endorsed the call for a three-month humanitarian truce, followed by a nine-month, inclusive, civilian-led political transition.

The Quad’s proposal, issued by the foreign ministers of the United States, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt, also called for a firm rejection of external military support for the warring parties.

However, the Sudanese Sovereign Council reacted coolly to the initiative. In a statement released shortly after an RSF drone attack on civilian infrastructure in White Nile state on Sunday, the council declared that the Sudanese people “alone will decide on the war.” The council framed the attack, which occurred hours after the Quad’s call for peace, as evidence of the RSF’s continued aggression and a reason for its cautious stance.

The AU and IGAD statement reaffirmed their readiness to work with the Quad and other partners to end the war. They announced plans to convene a “new reinvigorated round of consultations with Sudanese civilian groups” in October, alongside the League of Arab States, the United Nations, and the European Union.

The goal of these consultations is to promote unity among civilian stakeholders and prepare for an inclusive Sudanese-led dialogue.

Reiterating a belief shared with the Quad, the two African organizations stated that “there can be no military solution to the Sudanese crisis” and expressed their eagerness to collaborate to return Sudan to a civilian-led  government.