AUC and Justice for Sudan

By Dr. Hassan Issa Al-Talib

The African Union Commission (AUC) has a newly elected chairperson, Ambassador Mahmoud Ali Youssouf from Djibouti, following a vote by heads of state and government during the 38th African Union Summit on 15 February 2025. The newly elected chairperson is a seasoned diplomat, having served as Djibouti’s ambassador to Cairo and then as head of the Arab Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before being appointed Foreign Minister in 2005.
The competition for the position was fierce, with several diplomats and officials from across Africa contending. In the final rounds, the contest was narrowed down to candidates from East Africa, as per the regional rotation system of the AU. The final top contenders included:
Richard Randriamandrato, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Madagascar, and
Kenya’s former presidential candidate, Raila Odinga.
After seven rounds of voting, Ambassador Youssouf emerged as the final winner. Additionally, Algerian diplomat Salma Hadadi, Algeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the AU, was elected as the Commission’s Deputy Chairperson, securing the highest votes against rivals from Egypt and Morocco.
Why Did Djibouti’s Candidate Win?
Observers believe that Ambassador Youssouf’s victory was significantly boosted by the support of key blocs, including:
Member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),
The Arab League, and
Francophone African countries endorsed him as their preferred representative.
In his victory speech, the newly elected AU Commission chair pledged to focus on key issues such as:
Peace and security,
Good governance,
Human rights, and
The optimal mobilisation of African resources.
Pressing Issues Facing the African Union
Among the most urgent challenges confronting the AU today are:
1. Ongoing War in Eastern DR Congo
The escalating conflict in Eastern DR Congo involves armed groups backed by Rwanda and Uganda, pitted against forces from Burundi and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The East African Community (EAC), chaired by Kenyan President William Ruto, has been mediating the crisis, but without tangible success. Meanwhile, the M23 rebel group has seized the strategic city of Kivu, further complicating the conflict.
2. Libya’s Unresolved Crisis
Libya remains plagued by instability, with rival factions and militias undermining efforts to establish a unified government.
3. Sudan’s Ongoing War and Humanitarian Catastrophe
Since the outbreak of war in April 2023, Sudan has witnessed:
Over 1 million refugees fleeing the country,
Around 10 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), and
Systematic war crimes and genocide, particularly in Al-Geneina and other areas.
Both the US government and the European Union (EU) have condemned these atrocities, imposing sanctions that classify the RSF’s actions as genocide.
4. West African Regional Rift
Three Sahel nations—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—have withdrawn from ECOWAS, forming the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
They accused ECOWAS of collaborating with Western neo-colonial agendas, particularly France.
These countries have also revoked bilateral military agreements with France, expelling its military bases.
Despite ECOWAS lifting sanctions on these nations, they refused to rejoin the bloc.
5. AU’s Financial Crisis
The AU Commission continues to struggle with chronic budget deficits due to insufficient financial contributions from member states, which fail to cover even 50% of AU programmes.
This financial dependency on foreign donors has made the AU vulnerable to external influence, raising serious concerns about its independence.
Several African nations, including Sudan, Somalia, DR Congo, Libya, and the Sahel states, have criticised the AU’s susceptibility to foreign interference.
What Does This Mean for Sudan?
For Sudan, Ambassador Youssouf’s election brings both hope and opportunity. His regional expertise in the Horn of Africa, coupled with Djibouti’s membership in IGAD, positions him to play a crucial role in Sudan’s affairs.
Djibouti and Sudan were founding members of IGAD and have historically cooperated in regional peace initiatives.
Youssouf was directly involved in Sudan’s peace process, from the 2005 Naivasha Agreement to other mediation efforts in Somalia.
What Should Sudan Expect?
It is anticipated that the new AU Commission leadership will:
Recognise and condemn the war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity committed by the RSF rebels.
Reject false equivalency between the constitutional Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF militia, whose crimes have been documented by the UN, US, EU, and human rights organisations.
Review Sudan’s AU membership suspension, imposed after the October 2021 decision by Sovereign Council Chairman Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to assume executive powers following the resignation of former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.
Revisiting Sudan’s AU Membership Suspension
The AU suspended Sudan on the basis that Burhan’s decision violated constitutional norms.
However, Hamdok was not an elected leader—his appointment was part of a transitional arrangement.
Sudan’s last elected president was Omar al-Bashir, who was removed in 2019.
Therefore, the AU’s suspension contradicts the 2022 Accra Declaration, which states that:
“The AU shall not recognise or engage with unconstitutional governments that remove democratically elected leaders.”
Kenya’s Role in the Sudan Crisis
Sudan expects the AU Commission to issue a strong statement rejecting the RSF’s attempt to form a parallel government.
Kenya’s support for the RSF’s illegitimate government-in-exile is a direct violation of the AU Charter and UN principles.
Kenya has been facilitating foreign backing for the RSF, providing logistical, financial, and diplomatic support to the rebel militia.
Strategic Actions for Sudan
Sudan must intensify diplomatic efforts to:
Engage bilaterally with key African states, including Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Libya.
Mobilise grassroots support from civil society groups, such as:
Tribal and community leaders,
Professional unions,
NGOs and refugee organisations, and
Legal and human rights associations.
Petition the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, demanding a review of Kenya’s involvement in Sudanese affairs.
Engage influential international bodies, such as:
The Arab League,
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Leverage Interpol to pursue legal action against documented RSF war criminals and foreign financiers of the rebellion.
Secure support from key Arab and African allies, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
Hold nationwide consultations to solidify internal political consensus, ensuring a unified Sudanese stance against foreign interference.
Conclusion
The new AU Commission leadership presents a critical window of opportunity for Sudan to reclaim its rightful place in African diplomacy and mobilise collective opposition to the RSF rebellion. However, success will depend on proactive diplomacy, strategic alliances, and grassroots mobilisation to counter external conspiracies against Sudan’s sovereignty.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=4361