The African Union (AU) will not lift Sudan’s suspension from the bloc unless the country undergoes a clear democratic transition, a senior AU official said Sunday.
Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, emphasized that Sudan’s membership remains frozen due to the 2021 General al-Burhan-led coup and that any reinstatement depends on the establishment of a civilian-led government.
His remarks come as Sudanese junta ramp up diplomatic efforts ahead of the AU summit and a key meeting of the bloc’s Peace and Security Council, where heads of state will discuss Sudan’s status.
In a bid to regain AU recognition, Sudan’s SAF chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, recently toured six African countries, lobbying for support to lift the suspension.
Speaking at an AU press conference in Addis Ababa, Adeoye reaffirmed the AU’s condemnation of rights violations in Sudan and insisted that there is “no military solution” to the country’s crisis. He called for an immediate ceasefire and a Sudanese-led peace process.
Adeoye also pointed to the Pretoria peace deal—which ended Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict—as a potential model for resolving Sudan’s war, as well as ongoing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Following a high-level summit on Sunday, AU leaders pledged continued engagement on Sudan and announced plans to host political talks involving Sudanese factions in the coming days.
The AU reiterated its calls for Sudan’s warring parties, including the SAF and the Rapid Support Forces, to end hostilities and transition toward democratic governance.
Adeoye also stressed the urgency of humanitarian aid, warning that Sudan faces a worsening crisis. He said the AU is in direct talks with Burhan and other key actors to push for a ceasefire and peace negotiations.
“We are assessing Sudan’s latest roadmap,” he said. “We want to ensure inclusivity and bring all sides—including the Rapid Support Forces and their allies—to the negotiating table.”
The AU suspended Sudan’s membership on October 27, 2021, two days after the SAF, led by Burhan, dissolved the civilian government in what was widely condemned as a coup.
