The African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) on Thursday rejected a proposal submitted by Egypt seeking to lift the suspension of Sudan’s membership and restore recognition of the authority led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
African leaders opposed the Egyptian initiative, stressing that clear procedures and conditions must be met before Sudan’s suspension can be lifted—requirements they said remain unfulfilled.
According to diplomatic sources, Egypt’s foreign minister opened the PSC session by formally calling for the suspension to be lifted. However, multiple African representatives challenged the proposal, leading to its rejection. Ahead of the session, the Egyptian foreign minister had reportedly organized an informal meeting between Sudan’s foreign minister and several African counterparts in an effort to rally support, but a number of ministers boycotted the gathering.
The PSC’s final communiqué was described by sources as a compromise aimed at avoiding direct embarrassment for Cairo following the proposal’s failure. The statement nonetheless reaffirmed the continuation of Sudan’s suspension and underscored the need for close monitoring of developments in the country.
On Wednesday, diplomatic sources told Saheeh Sudan that Egypt and Algeria had intensified efforts to secure support for lifting Sudan’s suspension ahead of Thursday’s meeting. Despite these attempts, African opposition successfully blocked the move, reaffirming the African Union’s position of maintaining the suspension and declining to recognize any authority in Sudan at this stage.
Earlier this week, a high-level delegation from the Civil Democratic Alliance of Revolutionary Forces (Sumoud), led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, arrived in Addis Ababa for meetings with senior African Union officials.
Sources said the delegation emphasized that its immediate priorities include ending the war, facilitating humanitarian assistance, and addressing the worsening refugee and internal displacement crisis. They stressed that discussions about forming a government should only take place after a comprehensive political process following a cessation of hostilities.
