AU Peace and Security Council Endorses Mission Visit Outcome to Khartoum and Decides to Unify Mediation Efforts Under AU and IGAD Oversight

Addis Ababa – Sudanhorizon

The African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) has endorsed—via the “silence procedure” during its 1036th meeting held on August 28, 2026—the report of the Council’s field mission that visited Sudan between August 15 and 17, 2026.

On Wednesday, the Council lifted the silence procedure on its 26-paragraph statement. The preamble referenced two previous statements that had rejected parallel arrangements and recognized legitimate institutions—including the statement from the ministerial meeting. The Council reaffirmed the AU’s solidarity with the State of Sudan and its people, as well as its continued commitment to supporting their aspirations for restoring peace, security, lasting stability, and prosperity—outcomes that would benefit both Sudan and the entire African continent. Furthermore, the statement rejected any external interference in Sudanese affairs and declared support for Sudanese-owned solutions and dialogue, as well as the unification of efforts under the auspices of the AU and IGAD.

The statement also reiterated the AU’s respect for Sudan’s sovereignty, independence, national unity, and territorial integrity. In this regard, it restated its strong condemnation of—and refusal to recognize—any attempts by any party to partition Sudan or establish parallel institutions.

For the first time, the African Union Peace and Security Council dedicated several paragraphs to calling for support for Sudan through African Union institutions across various sectors and for accompanying the country during its recovery phase; it also called upon “external actors fueling the war to cease doing so.”

The Council expressed “deep concern regarding the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict—including heavy loss of life; population displacement (both internally displaced persons and refugees); the deliberate destruction of property and infrastructure; and violations of human rights, international humanitarian law, and international human rights law—including gender-based violence against women and girls, violations against children, and persistent attacks on educational facilities such as schools, colleges, universities, and scientific and technological research centers.”

In this regard, it warned “all perpetrators of atrocities and violations that they will be held accountable for these heinous acts.”

Furthermore, the Council emphasized the need to advance an inclusive, Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned political process that leads to a consensual resolution of the current crisis, with close support from the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

It also called for the coordination of all peace initiatives under the leadership of the African Union, supported by IGAD and the Quintet.

The Council’s statement strongly condemned “all external interventions and forms of military and other support that continue to fuel the conflict in Sudan” and urged all concerned states to put an end to such interventions.

It also condemned “all forms of support for terrorist and rebel elements and movements—whether through hosting, training, or the provision of logistical support—aimed at undermining the territorial integrity and security of neighboring countries and the region.”

The African Peace and Security Council emphasized “the importance of engaging all key stakeholders to identify solutions to the country’s unprecedented humanitarian crisis, while stressing the need to comprehensively address its structural root causes.”

It further called for the establishment and strengthening of accountability mechanisms to combat impunity and ensure justice for victims of atrocities committed during the ongoing war.

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