UN, AU chiefs to meet in Addis Ababa over Sudan crisis

May 13, 2026 (ADDIS ABABA) – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssef will hold a summit on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing crisis in Sudan.

The United Nations and the African Union are working within the “Quintet Mechanism,” which also includes IGAD, the Arab League, and the European Union. The bloc aims to contain the Sudanese conflict and bridge gaps between political factions to launch a process for the country’s future governance.

Diplomatic sources told Sudan Tribune that Guterres and Youssef will meet at the African Union headquarters in the Ethiopian capital.

The discussions are expected to focus on the humanitarian situation and various initiatives proposed to end the war. Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned of increasing restrictions on aid delivery, noting that several relief convoys have recently been targeted by drone strikes.

The African Union’s stance on the crisis remains complex as it seeks to assert “African solutions” while facing criticism over the effectiveness of its mediation efforts.

Sudan’s membership in the African Union has been suspended since the October 2021 coup. While the bloc maintains a firm policy against unconstitutional changes of government, there are ongoing diplomatic pressures, occasionally led by Egypt, to reinstate Sudan’s membership.