The African Union (AU) has appealed to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), engaged in armed confrontations since the 15th of April 2023, to implement an immediate ceasefire.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the AU urged the fighting forces to ensure the protection of civilians, health, sanitary, transport, water, electricity and other critical services as well as engage in political dialogue.
The statement came after Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security held a briefing via the Zoom online platform, on the AU’s contributions to end fighting in the troubled North African nation.
The commissioner recalled that international and continental organizations recently agreed to exert pressure on the belligerent SAF and RSF to silence the guns, and support Sudanese stakeholders through a jointly led AU-UN mechanism aimed at coordinating international actions to end the violence and the destabilization of Sudan, the region and continent.
AU’s recent Communiqué condemned the violence and called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, demanded the belligerents establish humanitarian corridors, return to political dialogue and negotiation towards the establishment of an inclusive civilian-led government.
“The ongoing conflict in Sudan presents a real risk of regional conflagration and internationalization akin to the situation in Libya in 2011. There is, therefore, a compelling need for the international community to speak with one voice and in coordination with the African Union.” Adeoye added.
MG/abj/APA