African Union delegation lands in Sudan to push ceasefire and political talks

A two-day African Union field mission started in Sudan, with the Peace and Security Council seeking to coax the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces into a ceasefire, expand humanitarian corridors and restart a Sudanese-led political process. The delegation arrives as the army has reclaimed much of Khartoum, yet the RSF still dominates Darfur and the strategically vital Kordofan region, where fighting around el-Obeid persists.

AU officials argue that ending hostilities alone will not resolve the crisis that followed the 2019 overthrow of Omar al-Bashir and the 2021 military coup. Earlier AU-backed ceasefire agreements in Jeddah and a 2024 field mission to Cairo and Port Sudan have not halted the war, highlighting the difficulty of getting both sides to compromise while they each believe they can improve their battlefield position. Analysts note the AU lacks enforcement mechanisms, financial leverage or a standby force, making it dependent on diplomatic coordination with IGAD, the UN, the United States and Saudi Arabia. The success of the visit will hinge on whether the delegation can secure durable commitments that translate into genuine negotiation momentum.