African Union Reopens Khartoum Office Amid Sudan Conflict

The Story

The African Union has reopened its liaison office in Khartoum, signaling a commitment to resolving the war in Sudan that has lasted over three years. The AU's decision to re-establish a physical presence in the capital aims to provide on-the-ground technical support and maintain open communication channels with Sudan's warring parties. AU personnel had withdrawn in April 2023 when fighting erupted, forcing the organization to conduct virtual diplomacy from its headquarters in Addis Ababa. The AU has a history of mediating conflicts in Sudan, including its role in advancing the 2005 peace agreement and facilitating the August 2019 power-sharing agreement after the coup that toppled Omar al-Bashir. The office was previously led by Mohamed Belaiche, the AU Commission Chairperson’s Special Representative to Sudan. Sudan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mohi-Eddin Salem, described the visit by AU ambassadors and members of the African Peace and Security Council to Khartoum as historic, stating it followed the liberation of Khartoum, the defeat of the terrorist militia, and the restoration of security and stability to the capital. During a meeting with the delegation, a documentary film was shown detailing alleged crimes committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia. Algeria's Permanent Representative to the AU and Chairperson of the African Peace and Security Council, Ambassador Mohamed Khaled, affirmed the AU's solidarity with Sudan and its commitment to restoring security and stability while respecting state sovereignty.

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