The African Union (AU) is calling for a ceasefire in Sudan during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), issued a statement on Friday urging “the Sudanese parties to observe a total cease-fire across the whole national territory throughout the holy month of Ramadan.”
Sudan has been embroiled in conflict since April 2023, with fighting erupting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
A key source of tension has been the integration of the RSF into the regular armed forces.
The violence has caused a devastating humanitarian crisis, with over 13,000 people killed and millions displaced from their homes.
The AUC Chairperson highlighted the potential of a ceasefire to alleviate the suffering.
“A cessation of hostilities could help facilitate the dispatch of humanitarian aid to civilian populations in dire need,” Mahamat stated.
He further emphasized the urgency of finding a peaceful resolution, urging the warring parties to “shoulder their responsibilities to prevent the serious risk of famine and other humanitarian catastrophes to befall the Sudanese people and the neighboring states.”
This call for a ceasefire echoes the recent plea from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
During a Thursday meeting of the UN Security Council on Sudan, Guterres urged “all actors involved in the conflict to honour a Ramadan cessation of hostilities.”
With Ramadan expected to begin early next week, there is a critical window of opportunity to bring silence to the guns and pave the way for peace in Sudan.
