Khartoum- 3 years after commenting African Union membership Sudan Following the decisions of the president council of state Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan Which was considered a “coup”, the Union initiated steps to return the country to the “African House” as called for by the Intergovernmental Authority for Development.IGADTo open a new page with Sudan after freezing its membership in the organization 9 months ago.
In a new step, the African Union Peace and Security Council showed flexibility in its position, calling on the Union Commission to open a liaison office in Port Sudan The temporary administrative capital to facilitate communication and support peace efforts.
During his meeting in Addis Ababa On Monday, the Council urged the African Union Commission, IGAD and neighboring countries to support the Presidential Commission in implementing the African Union roadmap, which includes an unconditional ceasefire, facilitating humanitarian access, protecting civilians, and launching an inclusive political process.
The Council stressed the importance of consulting with Sudanese officials regarding Al-Burhan’s proposals to end the conflict, which include establishing assembly points for forces and restoring the civilian-led democratic transitional process. It welcomed Al-Burhan’s readiness to form a civilian-led transitional government.
Why did the African Union suspend Sudan’s membership 3 years ago?
The African Union froze Sudan's membership following Al-Burhan's actions on October 25, 2021, by dissolving the Sovereignty and Council of Ministers and imposing a state of emergency in the country, which the Union considered a coup, while Al-Burhan rejected the African characterization and called his decisions corrective measures imposed by the circumstances of the stage.
What are the African Union’s conditions for ending the freeze on Sudan’s membership, and did its government respond to them?
A Sudanese Foreign Ministry official revealed – to Al Jazeera Net – that the African Peace and Security Council delegation asked Al-Burhan during his recent visit to Port Sudan to take practical steps that respond to the Union’s requirements to lift the freeze on its membership, and include a return to civilian rule, the path of democratic transformation, and a ceasefire.
Al-Burhan responded, according to the same source, preferring not to reveal his identity, with their seriousness about peace based on the “Jeddah Declaration” and the formation of a civil government through national consensus that would lead the country to general elections after a short transitional period, and insisted that Sudan would not respond to any African initiative unless its membership was restored. In the African organization.
During a press conference in Port Sudan on Monday, the Sudanese Foreign Minister renewed the government’s position regarding commitment to the peace process and forming a transitional government soon.
What are the implications of the timing of the move of the African Union and IGAD during this stage?
Researcher and political analyst Faisal Abdel Karim believes that the Union found itself marginalized in the Sudan crisis, and Egypt’s assumption of the presidency of the African Peace and Security Council as of the beginning of this October contributed to the movement to restore its role, and a delegation from the Council visited Port Sudan to bridge the relationship with the government.
The researcher told Al Jazeera Net that the African Union faced criticism during the previous period, and accusations that it had become an echo of European and Western positions and did not have an independent position.
Is Sudan's return to the Union close after its last position? What role can he play in the crisis?
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry official, who spoke to Al Jazeera Net, explains that the tension between the African Union and the African Union has decreased, indicating the emergence of a dialogue and a common desire between the two parties to accelerate the steps to end the suspension of the country’s membership and restore the African role.
He also talked about making an effort to stop the war away from external interference, and adopting a comprehensive Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue that leads to a Sudanese vision for running the country during a transitional period after the war without excluding any party.
Why did Sudan freeze its membership in IGAD?
Tension in Sudan's relationship with IGAD began less than two months after the outbreak of war, when a summit of the organization was held in Addis Ababa and leaders from countries in the region announced that there was a constitutional vacuum in Sudan, and demanded the deployment of East African forces in the country. IGAD also later allowed the presence of officials from regional countries outside the organization that support Rapid Support Forces.
Sudan froze its membership in the organization on January 20, in protest against the participation of the commander of the Rapid Support Forces. Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) In an extraordinary summit held in Uganda Two days before the freezing decision.
What are Sudan's conditions for returning to IGAD, and does the organization's leadership respond to them?
On Monday, Al-Burhan received the Minister of Foreign Affairs Djibouti Mahmoud Ali Youssef, whose country chaired the current session of the IGAD body, discussed with him Sudan’s withdrawal from freezing its membership in the body, and received a message from his country’s president. Ismail Omar Gileh The current president of the organization.
Sudanese Foreign Minister Hussein Awad explained that a “lengthy” discussion took place between Al-Burhan and the envoy of the Djiboutian president about the “mistakes and negative turns” taken by the organization towards the crisis in Sudan.
Awad stressed the need to separate Sudan's relationship with Djibouti and its relationship with IGAD until its position is “corrected and the mistakes it committed towards Sudan are acknowledged.”
He pointed out that the President of Djibouti expressed in his message IGAD's readiness to overcome differences, expressing his optimism about Sudan's return to the body as an active member.
Can the African Organization apologize to Sudan so that it can return to playing a role in ending the war?
Researcher and political analyst Faisal Abdel Karim believes that IGAD, which was a mediator in the peace agreement between northern and southern Sudan in 2005, finds support for its programs and the conduct of its affairs from Western countries, and after Sudan froze its membership, it lost its role and support.
The researcher adds that IGAD wants to resume its mediation in the Sudan crisis, but finds it difficult to meet the proof requirement by admitting to committing mistakes against his country and apologizing for them publicly.