Sudan's transitional government warned on May 27 that the country could leave the African Union (AU) if the regional organization attempts to ignore the East African country's sovereignty when making its decisions.
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| People fleeing ongoing conflict in Sudan arrive at Koufroun, Chad, on the border between the two countries, May 2023. (Source: Reuters) |
Al-Jazeera TV channel quoted an unnamed Sudanese diplomatic official as saying that he had informed the AU about the possibility that Khartoum could leave the organization, if the AU took steps without consulting them.
The diplomat told a Qatar-based news channel that Sudan had blocked the AU's Intergovernmental Authority on Development from holding a summit on Sudan on May 12, saying it did not take into account the country's interests.
On the same day, May 27, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called on the international community to support the efforts of Sudan's neighboring countries to resolve the conflict as well as the humanitarian consequences in this East African country.
The Egyptian leader made the call at an online meeting of the AU's Peace and Security Council (PSC).
The event, chaired by Ugandan President Yoweri K Museveni, was attended by a number of African heads of state and government, as well as several senior officials, including Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit and UN Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Hanna Tetteh.
The meeting discussed efforts to find a sustainable ceasefire and resume civilian-led democratic process in Sudan as well as solutions to ensure regional stability.
"I call on humanitarian organizations and donor countries to provide the necessary support to Sudan's neighboring countries so that they can continue to fulfill their role," President El-Sisi said.
Mr. El-Sisi emphasized that the humanitarian consequences of the Sudanese crisis have gone beyond borders and affected neighboring countries, therefore, efforts to resolve the Sudanese conflict require close coordination among these countries.
The leader added that Egypt has taken in about 150,000 Sudanese citizens who were displaced to escape the conflict, along with about 5 million other migrants living in the country of the Pyramids.
Egypt will continue to coordinate with its partners and aid organizations to provide urgent humanitarian aid to the Sudanese people. Regional countries must support Sudanese factions to end the current crisis and reach a consensus to address the underlying causes of the conflict.
The Egyptian president also stressed the need for close coordination among Sudan's neighboring countries to resolve the crisis, noting that the countries most affected by the Sudanese crisis want the conflict to end as soon as possible.
Clashes have been ongoing between Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since mid-April 2023.
A week-long ceasefire came into effect across Sudan on May 22, but sporadic fighting continues.
The United Nations estimates more than 860 people have been killed in the conflict and 3,500 others injured.
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