Al-Burhan Rejects African Union's Characterization of Sudan Events in Meeting with African Peace and Security Council Delegation

The Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council and Commander of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, met today in Port Sudan with a delegation from the African Peace and Security Council currently visiting the country, headed by Ambassador Mohamed Jad, Egypt's Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, and the rotating president of the Peace and Security Council for October.

Lieutenant General Al-Burhan welcomed the delegation's visit to Sudan, stating that he still sees the African Union's characterization of the events of October 25 as a coup as inaccurate and contrary to the facts. He affirmed that Sudan is experiencing a new form of colonialism, adding that the African Union's neglect of the crisis facing the Sudanese people is due to its lack of understanding of the reality of this crisis.

He explained that the country is occupied by rebel militias with the participation of foreign mercenaries, assisted by known countries. He pointed to the terrorist militias' attacks on safe cities, their violations of citizens' sanctities, their looting of properties, and their raping of women, noting that the entire world witnessed this and did nothing.

Al-Burhan Rejects African Union's Characterization of Sudan Events in Meeting with African Peace and Security Council Delegation

Al-Burhan confirmed his rejection of foreign entities controlling Sudan using militias in their war against the country. He stated that political forces are seeking to return to power by any means before citizens can return to their homes and areas occupied by the rebel militias.

For his part, Ambassador Mohamed Jad, head of the delegation, stated in a press statement that this is the first visit by the Peace and Security Council to Sudan in several years, noting that Egypt has been keen to undertake this visit since it began its presidency of the council last April.

He mentioned that the explanations provided by the Chairman of the Sovereign Council to the African Peace and Security Council delegation helped clarify the dimensions of the Sudanese crisis, adding that the delegation affirmed its support for the brotherly Sudan until peace is achieved in the country. He noted that Egypt always emphasizes the need for Sudan to emerge from this crisis in good condition and that the meeting discussed the necessity of creating the appropriate environment for Sudan to restore its membership in the African Union, stressing that Sudan cannot go through such a crisis while its membership is frozen in the African Union.

Ambassador Mohamed Jad confirmed that the African Peace and Security Council will seek to achieve peace in Sudan, stop the fighting, and support the facilitation of humanitarian assistance to the Sudanese people.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Al-Zain Ibrahim Hussein, Sudan's Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, stated in a press release that the visit of the African Peace and Security Council is significant as it is the first since 2015 and signals a new positive relationship between the African Union and Sudan following the suspension of Sudan's membership on October 26, 2021, after the corrective measures regarding the dissolution of the partnership with the civilian component.

He explained that the delegation listened to a detailed explanation from the Chairman of the Sovereign Council regarding various military, security, political, and humanitarian files, noting that the delegation held important meetings with several state officials, which provided an opportunity to understand the overall situation in Sudan and enabled the delegation to gain insight into the reality of the crisis.

Ambassador Al-Zain noted that Egypt currently chairs the African Peace and Security Council and mentioned that the delegation included the AU Commissioner for Peace, Security, and Political Affairs, as well as the AU's representative in Sudan, Ambassador Mohamed Bel'aych. He emphasized that this visit could serve as a roadmap for re-establishing Sudan's ties with the African Union.