Sudan rejects the African Union’s peace initiative

Malik Agar, the deputy chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, has criticized the African Union’s initiative to solve the Sudanese problem, deeming it irrelevant. He called for a focus on ending the ongoing war in Sudan as a priority at this stage.

During his recent tour of several IGAD countries, including South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, and Djibouti, Agar discussed ways to halt the war in Sudan and activate the IGAD decision to assign the heads of state of South Sudan, Djibouti, and Kenya to engage with the conflict parties in order to cease the fighting.

On June 1, the military-led Sovereign Council stated that Agar also discussed the outcomes of the African summit meeting, the humanitarian situation, and measures to address the issues faced by displaced persons and refugees.

In an interview with BBC Radio Arabic aired on Sunday, Agar emphasized that the current focus should be stopping the war in Sudan and establishing mechanisms and programs to secure a ceasefire and end the conflict in Khartoum’s populated neighbourhoods and Darfur region.

Agar criticized the existence of multiple initiatives aimed at resolving the conflict in Sudan, arguing that there should be a unified initiative that comprehends the complexities and challenges specific to Sudan.

“Sudan is not part of the African Union’s initiative. The African Union talks about solving the problem of Sudan at a time when it suspends Sudan’s membership in the organization. Therefore, (Khartoum) cannot even discuss its initiative. This situation means as if the AU is seeking to impose it on Sudan which is unacceptable,” he stated.

On the 6th of June 2019, the African Union Peace and Security (PSC) Council suspended the participation of the Republic of Sudan in all AU activities until the effective establishment of a civilian-led Transitional Authority, as the only way to allow Sudan to exit from its current crisis.