A delegation from Sudan’s Civil Democratic Alliance of Revolutionary Forces (Sumud) has been consulting with key African Union member states in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, seeking to maintain the suspension of Sudan’s membership due to the absence of a legitimate government following the 2021 coup.
Efforts to Maintain Sudan’s Suspension
The Sumud delegation held intensive consultations with ‘influential countries’ in decision-making within the African Union, as well as the 15 members of the African Peace and Security Council, the body responsible for freezing and restoring AU membership. The African Union’s 48th Ordinary Session of the Executive Board is scheduled for February 11-12, 2026, culminating in a Heads of State and Government Summit from February 14-15, 2026.
Dr. Bakri El Jak, official spokesman of the Sumud alliance, stated that the reasons for Sudan’s suspension remain valid, citing the lack of a legitimate government and the continuation of the coup against the revolution. He added that the ongoing conflict is being used in an attempt to restore legitimacy by those who initiated it.
History of Sudan’s AU Membership
The AU Peace and Security Council initially suspended Sudan’s participation in all AU activities in 2019, pending the establishment of a civilian-led government. The suspension was briefly lifted in 2021, but reinstated in October of the same year following the coup led by Lieutenant General Abdelfattah El Burhan, which dissolved the Sovereignty Council and Council of Ministers and imposed a state of emergency.
Sudan recently suspended its membership in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in January 2024, protesting the participation of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ‘Hemedti’ in a summit held in Uganda.
Concerns Regarding the African Union’s Approach
El Jak expressed criticism of the African Union’s handling of the political situation in Sudan, stating that the approach lacks institutional rigor and treats the crisis as a temporary event rather than a complex, long-term process. He emphasized the need for thorough consideration given the crisis’s complexity.
He also criticized the practice of inviting Sudanese parties to meetings without prior consultation regarding who has the authority to invite and participate, describing such meetings as unproductive.
Egypt and Algeria’s Efforts
A delegation led by Dr. Abdallah Hamdok, head of the Sumud alliance, arrived in Addis Ababa on Monday to meet with delegations participating in the African summit. The goal is to discuss the situation in Sudan, present the Sumud alliance’s vision for peace, and urge increased efforts to stop the war.
El Jak acknowledged ongoing efforts led by Egypt and Algeria to restore Sudan’s AU membership, stating that their position is not about dismantling the Sudanese state but is based on an objective assessment of the reasons for the suspension, which he maintains still exist.
Legitimacy as a Key Obstacle
El Jak stressed that the issue of legitimacy is a major obstacle to achieving peace in Sudan, arguing that the African Union should not legitimize any single party. He believes that consolidating legitimacy for one side at the expense of another will only complicate the crisis and prolong the conflict.
He reiterated that the situation following October 25, 2021, remains unchanged, and there is still no legitimate government in place. He affirmed that Sumud’s efforts will continue to prioritize peace and the establishment of a legitimate authority capable of managing the transitional period.
Egypt assumed the presidency of the African Peace and Security Council of the African Union for the current session, succeeding the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Council, established in 2003, is responsible for implementing AU decisions and preventing/resolving conflicts, and is comprised of 15 countries.
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