Rhino: Agencies – The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) on Friday reiterated its solidarity with the people of Sudan in their legitimate aspiration to restore constitutional order through a civilian-led government. The Council revealed an upcoming solidarity visit to Sudan to engage with stakeholders on the ground.

The Council condemned the ongoing war in Sudan and its negative impact on the Sudanese people and the region, and the accompanying violations of human rights, international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and called on the warring parties to stop fighting immediately and priorities the interests of Sudan and its people.

In a statement on Friday, the Council stressed that there is no military solution to the current crisis and that only an inclusive dialogue owned and led by the Sudanese will lead to a sustainable solution. In this regard, we urge the parties to the conflict to fully participate in the expanded and more inclusive peace process in Jeddah, with the participation of the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and neighboring countries.

We condemn the atrocities, including indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, and reported incidents of violence against women, girls and children in the conflict in Sudan, and therefore strongly warn perpetrators that they will be held accountable for their actions, and to this end, request the African Union Commission to provide options for atrocity investigation and accountability, and report to the Council in a timely manner.

The statement emphasized the need for the warring parties to implement all agreements reached in the Jeddah Declaration, signed on 11 May 2023, regarding humanitarian access and the protection of civilians.