The African Union (AU) has expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict in Sudan, condemning what it describes as relentless war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
In an official statement released Wednesday, the AU highlighted the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan, warning that the continued violence threatens regional stability.
The statement followed a special meeting held last week to discuss the crisis, underscoring the organization’s alarm over the persistent atrocities in the Northeast African nation.
Mounting War Crimes and Humanitarian Crisis
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal conflict between the SAF, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as “Hemedti.”
The fighting, which began as a power struggle between the two factions, has plunged the country into chaos, with widespread reports of human rights abuses, mass displacement, and an impending famine.
The AU’s latest statement explicitly condemned the “non-stop perpetration of war crimes and crimes against humanity” by both warring sides.
Rights organizations and humanitarian groups have repeatedly documented evidence of indiscriminate shelling, mass killings, sexual violence, and the forced displacement of civilians—many of whom have fled to neighboring countries such as Chad and South Sudan.
Call for a Ramadan Truce
In an attempt to mitigate the suffering, the AU has urged the warring factions to observe a humanitarian ceasefire during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The appeal comes amid growing international pressure for a cessation of hostilities to allow for the delivery of aid and medical assistance to millions of Sudanese civilians caught in the crossfire.
However, previous ceasefire agreements have repeatedly collapsed, with both sides accusing each other of violations.
The likelihood of a sustained truce remains uncertain as the conflict intensifies, with neither the SAF nor the RSF showing a willingness to back down.
Tensions with Kenya Over Parallel Government Plans
Even as the AU called for peace, tensions flared between Sudan’s army-aligned government and Kenya.
Khartoum accused Nairobi of violating Sudan’s sovereignty by allegedly hosting RSF leaders who were planning to declare a parallel government.
According to sources who spoke with the French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP), the RSF intended to announce a government in territories under its control during an event in Nairobi on Friday.
If carried out, such a move could further deepen the crisis and complicate efforts to broker a political solution.
The Sudanese government, which remains aligned with the SAF under General Burhan, has frequently criticized Kenya and other regional actors for what it perceives as interference in its internal affairs.
The alleged RSF meeting in Nairobi is likely to strain diplomatic relations further, particularly within the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which has been attempting to mediate the conflict.
A Conflict with No End in Sight
Despite international condemnation and mediation efforts, Sudan’s conflict shows no signs of abating.
The AU’s latest warning underscores the severity of the crisis, but without a concrete and enforceable peace plan, the violence is likely to persist.
With millions of civilians in desperate need of aid and the warring factions locked in a deadly struggle for power, Sudan remains on the brink of a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe.
As Ramadan approaches, the world will be watching to see if the warring sides heed the AU’s call for a truce—or if the cycle of bloodshed continues.
Some information sourced from Reuters and Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Share This Post