Communiqué of the 1261st Meeting of the Peace and Security Council, held on 14 February 2025, on the Consideration of the Situation in Sudan

Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 1261st meeting held on 14 February 2025 on Consideration of the Situation in Sudan:

The Peace and Security Council,

Recalling its previous decisions and pronouncements on the situation in Sudan, particularly, Communiqués [PSC/PR/COMM.1235 (2024)] adopted by the PSC at its 1235th meeting held on 9 October 2024; [PSC/MIN/COMM.1233.1 (2024)] adopted by the PSC at its 1233rd meeting held at Ministerial level on 25 September 2024 in New York on the margins of the UN General Assembly; [PSC/HoSG/COMM.1218 (2024)] adopted at its 1218th meeting held at the level of Heads of State and Government on 21 June 2024; as well as Press Statements [PSC/PR/BR.1213 (2024)] adopted at its 1213th meeting held on 21 May 2024; and [PSC/PR/BR.1228 (2024)], adopted at its 1228th meeting held on 19 August 2024; [PSC/PR/COMM.1041 (2021)] adopted at its 1041st meeting held on 26 October 2021;

Reaffirming the AU solidarity and unwavering commitment to continue supporting the people of Sudan in their aspirations to restore lasting peace, security, stability and prosperity in their country for the benefit of all Sudanese, neighbouring countries, the entire Horn of Africa region and the wider African Continent;

Also reaffirming the AU commitment to respect the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan;

Noting the introductory remarks by H.E. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union for February 2025, and the briefing by H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission;

Noting the statements by H.E. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti and Chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development delivered by H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Government Spokesperson of the Republic of Djibouti; H.E. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General; and the representative of the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States; and

Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council,

1. Expresses deep concern over the continued armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its adverse impact on the Sudanese people and the Region;

2. Conveys deep concern over the ongoing siege and relentless fighting in El Fasher, the capital city of Sudan’s North Darfur State, with devastating impact on livelihood on a massive scale;

3. Strongly urges the warring parties to observe a humanitarian truce during the holy month of Ramadan starting in March 2025;

4. Expresses deep concern over the continued escalation of the conflict, between the two warring parties, particularly the non-stop perpetration of war crimes and crimes against humanity, other grave violations of human rights, violating International Human Rights Law (IHRL) and International Humanitarian Law (IHL);

5. Reiterates its call for the Parties to establish an immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire and to return to negotiations followed by an inclusive national dialogue and political transition and emphasises that there is no viable and sustainable military solution to the current war;

6. Categorically condemns all forms of violations of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law, and warns the perpetrators that they will be held accountable for their deplorable actions and reiterates the imperative to protect civilians;

7. Reiterates its condemnation of all forms of external interference, which is fuelling the Sudanese conflict, in flagrant violation of all relevant PSC Communiques and UN Security Council Resolutions, in particular Resolution 1556 (2004), also reiterates its demand that they cease doing so immediately and that all actors including, states and non-state entities, cease all military and financial support to the warring parties;

8. Urgesthe warring parties to ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access to the population in need, and calls on the two parties to facilitate the opening of many humanitarian corridors and to allow the safe and unhindered delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance to populations in need;

9. Once again, underlines the utmost importance of a Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned inclusive political dialogue, as the only viable path towards a consensual and sustainable solution to the current crisis; calls on all Sudanese stakeholders to put aside their differences and personal interests and focus on national dialogue, reconciliation and social cohesion as the best option for resolving the Sudanese crisis in the supreme interest of Sudan and Sudanese people;

10. Welcomes the progress made in the operationalisation of the PSC Ad Hoc Presidential Committee on Sudan; commends the leadership of H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the PSC Ad Hoc Presidential Committee, for the steps already taken towards convening the meeting of the Ad Hoc Presidential Committee on Sudan; and encourages him to continue to spare no effort to facilitate engagements between the leaders of the SAF and RSF;

11. Commends the AU Commission, particularly the AU High-Level Panel (HLP) on the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan, for its efforts aimed at resolving the conflict in Sudan; and requests the AU Commission, through the HLP, and in close coordination with the IGAD, as well as neighbouring countries to continue engaging civilian actors towards an inclusive inter-Sudanese process; and

12. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.