Has the African Union Forged an Independent Track for Sudanese Dialogue?

Addis Ababa – Sudanhorizon A limited-circulation report published by Africa Intelligence has described the “unilateral step” recently taken by the African Union Commission regarding the Sudanese dialogue — through expanding the list of invitees — as having unsettled the “Quintet”. According to the report, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has thereby distanced the organisation from the mediation group’s framework and brought it closer to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s position. The report further argues that the African Union’s “unilateral initiative” threatens negotiations under the auspices of the international Quintet, which have been ongoing for several months. The report’s author explained that, in July, the African organisation invited an additional 32 Sudanese figures to the Addis Ababa talks without the “Quintet’s” approval.