Sudan Events – Agencies
Following Russia’s veto of a UK-proposed UN Security Council resolution to halt the fighting and protect civilians in Sudan, Port Sudan, the country’s temporary administrative capital, welcomed five international envoys. Observers view this development as an escalation of international concern over the humanitarian crisis and an attempt to revive the stalled peace process.
Over the past week, Sudan hosted five international envoys: U.S. envoy Tom Perriello, German envoy Heiko Nitschke, Norwegian envoy Andrea Staes, Swiss envoy Sylvain Astier, and Japanese envoy Shimizu Shinsuke.
Their discussions with Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and senior state officials focused on humanitarian issues, facilitating aid delivery, and prospects for peace and cessation of hostilities. However, according to sources close to the Sovereign Council, the envoys did not present specific proposals during these meetings.
Meanwhile, UK Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, Alison Blackburn, visited Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, in recent days. The EU’s envoy to the Horn of Africa, Ambassador Annette Weber, is also set to visit Port Sudan in early December.
Strengthening African Engagement
On the regional level, the African Union (AU) rejected reinstating Sudan’s membership, which was suspended following Al-Burhan’s October 2021 measures dissolving the Sovereign and Ministerial Councils and imposing a state of emergency—actions the AU deemed a coup.
AU Commissioner Bankole Adeoye stated during the annual consultative meeting between the African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) and its EU counterpart in Addis Ababa that the AU, in coordination with IGAD and the UN, is working on a practical solution for Sudan. The focus remains on achieving a ceasefire and facilitating humanitarian aid delivery.
Adeoye emphasized that deploying an AU mission to Sudan hinges on reaching a sustainable ceasefire agreement.
Activists on social media and online platforms reported that Sudanese opposition groups are lobbying the AU to invoke Article 4 of its constitution, which allows intervention in member states in cases of war crimes or genocide without requiring UN Security Council approval.
However, a senior Sudanese official, speaking anonymously, clarified that the AU’s PSC delegation, which visited Port Sudan in early October, agreed with Sudanese authorities on a roadmap to lift Sudan’s suspension from the AU and to support peace and political processes.
A Possible Settlement
Cameron Hudson, a former CIA analyst and current researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, hinted at a potential settlement between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
After spending a week in Port Sudan, Hudson shared on “X” that he observed a markedly different stance, particularly from the military.
Additionally, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield to maintain leadership in resolving Sudan’s crisis. With the U.S. set to preside over the UN Security Council in December, Senator Cardin suggested using this platform to spotlight the crisis and push for bold action.
Reviving the Political Process
Commenting on the international movements, analyst and Al-Tayyar newspaper editor Osman Mirghani highlighted growing global concern over what is described as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Mirghani stated that donor countries’ weak responses stem from challenges in delivering aid and concerns about its misuse, leaving affected populations without significant improvement.
He added that the international community now realizes that continued war exacerbates the humanitarian crisis, necessitating an urgent focus on ending the conflict.
According to Mirghani, Switzerland is spearheading efforts to revive the political process, following its August consultations on Sudan. This initiative builds on previous conferences in Cairo (July) and Addis Ababa (August), which have yet to yield significant progress.
On Monday, Geneva will host the third roundtable discussions, organized by the Swiss organization “Promediation.” The two-day event will include diverse political and civil forces debating solutions to the Sudanese crisis.
Anticipated Developments
Political researcher Sir Al-Khatim Khairi believes that the growing focus on Sudan’s humanitarian and political crises reflects regional and international recognition of the conflict’s security implications. European nations, in particular, are concerned about irregular migration. Khairi described this as a “delayed awakening” after more than 18 months of war.
In his remarks to Al Jazeera, Khairi did not rule out a new UN Security Council session under U.S. leadership in December. He noted that President Joe Biden’s administration is eager to secure a political achievement in Sudan following setbacks in Gaza, Lebanon, and Ukraine.
Khairi also suggested that Washington and London might organize a joint visit by the UN Security Council and the AU PSC to Port Sudan. This would aim to pressure the Sudanese government and signal the international community’s determination to end the conflict.
