Haavisto Engages in Intensive Consultations in Addis Ababa Ahead of His Khartoum Visit

Addis Ababa – Sudanhorizon

Pekka Haavisto, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Sudan—currently in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa—is conducting intensive consultations ahead of his anticipated visit to Khartoum, Sudan.
In this context, he met on Wednesday with ambassador Al-Zein Ibrahim Hussein, Sudan’s Permanent Representative to the African Union and Ambassador to Addis Ababa. In a post on the platform X (formerly Twitter) Ambassador Al-Zein stated that the meeting provided an opportunity to brief Haavisto on the situation in Sudan, given the war currently imposed upon the country, and to discuss the role of the international community in supporting the objectives of the Sudanese initiative.
Separately, the UN envoy met on the same day with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.
According to a post by the African Union Commission on X, the two sides exchanged views on ongoing diplomatic efforts and mediation initiatives aimed at achieving a ceasefire and advancing a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Sudan—including the African Union’s engagement with the “Quintet” group.
As noted in the post, Haavisto commended the African Union’s leadership and its continued outreach to the relevant Sudanese parties to address the political and humanitarian crisis. He also welcomed the Commission Chairperson’s plans to reopen the African Union liaison office in Khartoum. The Chairperson of the Commission briefed Haavisto on the diplomatic initiatives undertaken by the African Union. These include efforts led by the office of Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas—the African Union High Representative and Chair of the AU High-Level Panel on Sudan—as well as the work of Ambassador Mohamed Belaiche, the Special Representative of the Chairperson and Head of the AU Liaison Office in Sudan. These efforts involve engaging with relevant Sudanese stakeholders and coordinating with the Quintet and the Quartet groups.
The Chairperson reaffirmed the African Union’s position that any credible path toward a sustainable resolution to the crisis must be inclusive, Sudanese-led, and Sudanese-owned, with the Sudanese people at the very heart of the process.
Both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening close coordination between the African Union and the United Nations. They reiterated the pivotal role of the African Union in facilitating the political process, while expressing deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation and the urgent need to end the suffering of the Sudanese civilians.
The news outlet “Sudanhorizon” had previously reported on the anticipated visit by Guterres’s envoy, noting his request to the Government of Sudan to facilitate meetings with senior state officials.

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