How Samia views Sudan security situation

AFRICAN Union (AU) Heads of State and Government had 1218th meeting of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) to consider the report of the Chairperson of the AU Commission on the situation in the Republic of Sudan.

Tanzania Ambassador to Ethiopia and the Special Representative to the Au, Mr Innocent Shiyo, unveiled to the ‘Sunday News’ that it was the second time Uganda, under President Yoweri Museveni, has convened a summit-level session on Sudan during its chairship of the PSC since the conflict erupted in April 2023, the first being held last year in May.

Ambassador Shiyo said that Ugandan President, Mr Yoweri Museveni, who is the chairperson of the PSC for the month of June, presided over the session, and the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat, and Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the chair of the AU High-Level Panel on Sudan and High Representative for Silencing the Guns, briefed the PSC.

António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Workneh Gebeyehu, the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and Mr Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Executive Secretary of the League of Arab States (LAS) delivered statements.

In a special way, President Samia Suluhu Hassan had her speech to the PSC. She said the situation in Sudan remains deeply concerning, marked by significant security and political instability, economic hardship, and acute humanitarian crises.

The conflict has led to the displacement of millions, widespread violence, and a breakdown of essential public services. She noted that it is crucial for this Council to present a unified and decisive response to the situation in Sudan.

Our collective actions must demonstrate our commitment to peace, security, and the wellbeing of all African peoples, in particular the Sudanese people.

“We should utilize our diplomatic channels, economic instruments, and peacekeeping capabilities to create an environment conducive to dialogue and reconciliation in Sudan. “The African Union plays a pivotal role in facilitating dialogue among Sudanese stakeholders.

It is crucial to support inclusive peace talks that involve all relevant parties, including civil society, women’s groups, and youth representatives.

The ultimate goal should be to achieve a sustainable political settlement that addresses the root causes of the conflict and paves the way for democratic governance,” she noted.

President Samia said that in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis, it is imperative that Africans strengthen their support for humanitarian assistance in Sudan.

She said it is of great importance to closely cooperate with the United Nations and international partners, humanitarian organizations, and local communities to ensure the efficient delivery of aid to those in need.

She stressed that prioritizing the protection of civilians, particularly in conflict-affected areas, remains paramount.

The ongoing pursuit of lasting peace in Sudan, noted the Head of State, is inherently intertwined with the imperative of economic recovery and development.

She noted that AU must lend its support to Sudan in reconstructing its economy, facilitating job creation, particularly for the youth, and promoting sustainable development.

“Key initiatives aimed at economic stabilization, infrastructure investment, and bolstering small and medium enterprises will prove instrumental in advancing these goals.

The AU Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Center in Cairo, Egypt, needs to start identifying areas to support Sudan.

“We commend the work done so far by the High-Level Panel on Sudan under Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas and the role played by the IGAD and the neighboring countries,” she observed.

To ensure the effectiveness of the interventions, she noted, Africans need to set up strong monitoring and accountability mechanisms.

She talked of regular assessments of the situation in the field, transparent reporting, and the involvement of independent observers will help Africans measure progress and adjust their strategies as needed.

In that regard, the United Republic of Tanzania wished to propose some measures.

One of the measures is to demand as a matter of urgency, that the belligerents immediately and unconditionally ceasefire in order to return to negotiations and end the suffering of the Sudanese people and create humanitarian corridors for humanitarian access to the needy population, particularly women, children, the aged, and other vulnerable populations.

President Samia outlined the others as: “We need to establish a committee of the sitting Heads of State and Government from the five regions of the AU to engage key parties in Sudan with a view to ensuring a ceasefire and a successful negotiation process.

The Heads of State will augment the work of the Highlevel Panel on Sudan. “The AU Commission, through the High-Level Panel, should analyze the situation and bring recommendations to this Council on how we can protect civilians. We should not fold our hands while our people are being killed.

“Lastly, Tanzania strongly condemns the alleged killings in Sudan, particularly in Darfur, which is a gross violation of the AU instruments on human and people’s rights, as well as international humanitarian law and human rights law by all belligerents.”

In conclusion, President Samia noted that the situation in Sudan necessitates prompt and sustained attention and that Africans’ steadfast commitment to peace, security, and solidarity should be the cornerstone of the actions. “Through collaborative efforts, we can support Sudan in overcoming this challenging period and laying the groundwork for a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic future.

Allow me to reaffirm our unwavering dedication to the people of Sudan and the enduring values that unite us as members of the African Union.

Through joint efforts, we aspire to effect meaningful change and contribute to the establishment of enduring peace and stability in Sudan,” she concluded.

On the final intervention at the meeting, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mr January Makamba expressed appreciation to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and his team for their dedicated efforts in compiling a comprehensive report on peace and security.

“The detailed analysis and invaluable recommendations will greatly guide our actions and responses to the ongoing crisis in Sudan.

In the same vein, we commend the work done so far by the High-LevePanel on Sudan under Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, and the role played by the IGAD and the neighboring countries.

We also take note of the contributions and comments made by the previous speakers. He said it was needless to mention that the situation in Sudan is very alarming.

Despite numerous efforts by the AU, IGAD and other members of international community, the conflict shows no signs of abating.

Instead, it has spread throughout the country resulting in loss of lives of thousands of people, displacement of millions, widespread violence, economic hardship, and a breakdown of essential public services. He expressed concerns of Tanzania on the situation.

“Indeed, United Republic of Tanzania is deeply concerned that the fighting has now drawn in a growing number of international and regional actors, who are supplying arms and ammunition, as well as foreign fighters, to the two main belligerents, further fueling the conflict and increasing its complexity and intractability.

We are also deeply worried that the fighting has taken on an increasing ethnic dimension, reminiscent of the Darfur conflict of twenty years ago.

Indeed, credible reports suggest that atrocities have been committed throughout Sudan,” he said. Mr Makamba noted that it is crucial for the Council to present a unified and decisive response to the situation in Sudan, noting that collective actions must demonstrate Africans’ commitment to peace, security, and the well-being of all African peoples, in particular the Sudanese people.

“We should utilize our diplomatic channels, economic instruments, and peacekeeping capabilities to create an environment conducive to dialogue and reconciliation in Sudan,” he said.

He noted that AU has a pivotal role to play in facilitating dialogue among Sudanese stakeholders. In that respect, it is crucial to support inclusive peace talks that involve all relevant parties, including civil society, women’s groups, and youth representatives.

“The ultimate goal should be to achieve a sustainable political settlement that addresses the root causes of the conflict and paves the way for democratic governance,” he said.

Against this backdrop, Makamba said that his delegation would like to propose issues to be include in the final communique.

The proposed were: “Condemn the killings in Sudan, particularly in Darfur, which is a gross violation of the AU instruments on human and people’s rights, as well as international humanitarian law and human rights law by all belligerents.

“Demand as a matter of urgency that the belligerents immediately and unconditionally ceasefire in order to return to negotiations, and end the suffering of the Sudanese people, and create humanitarian corridors for humanitarian access to the needy population, particularly women, children, the aged, and other vulnerable populations.

“Condemn external interference which is fueling the conflict, in flagrant violation of the PSC Communiques and UN Security Council Resolution 1556 (2004) and demand that they cease doing so immediately.

“Reaffirm AU firm support of the promotion and protection of the full sovereignty, territorial integrity and political unity of the Republic of Sudan as one indivisible Nation-State.”

Mr Makamba said that, in addition, his delegation called on the establishment of a committee of the sitting Heads of State and Government from the five regions of the AU to engage key parties in Sudan, with a view to ensuring a ceasefire and a successful negotiation process.

“The Heads of State will augment the work of the High-level Panel on Sudan; The AU Commission, through the High-Level Panel, should also analyze the situation and bring recommendations to this Council on how we can protect civilians.

We should not fold our hands while our people are being killed,” Makamba said. The minister said the situation in Sudan necessitates Africans’ prompt and sustained attention.

He noted that their steadfast commitment to peace, security, and solidarity should be the cornerstone of their actions. He added that trough collaborative efforts, they could support Sudan in overcoming the challenging period and laying the groundwork for a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic future.

As of 10 May 2024, the conflict in Sudan has reportedly killed 16,650 people since its eruption on 15 April 2023, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED).

It has also created the worst humanitarian crises in the world, displacing 10 million people, leaving more than 25 million (half of the population)—of whom over 14 million children—in need of humanitarian aid.

At least 5 million people are ‘teetering on the brink of starvation,’ with more than 40 hunger hotspots at a high risk of slipping into famine in the coming month.

If the war continues to escalate, it is not clear how it would not push the current dire situation into humanitarian catastrophe