STORY: AU urges immediate ceasefire in Sudan as humanitarian crisis continues to worsen
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 16, 2025
DATELINE: Feb. 18, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:30
LOCATION: Addis Ababa
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the African Union headquarters
2. SOUNDBITE (English): BANKOLE ADEOYE, AU commissioner for political affairs, peace and security

STORYLINE:

The African Union (AU) on Sunday called on the warring parties in Sudan to enforce an immediate ceasefire and initiate a political transition as the conflict-induced humanitarian crisis continues to worsen.

Bankole Adeoye, AU commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, made such remarks Sunday on the sidelines of the 38th AU Summit at its headquarters in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

SOUNDBITE (English): BANKOLE ADEOYE, AU commissioner for political affairs, peace and security
"Sudan remains suspended from the African Union for its unconstitutional change of government of October 2021. However, what is happening in Sudan continues to attract active attention in the council, in the commission, and within all peace-loving actors. We condemn, like our council did, all forms of violations, (including) grave violations against women and children, in Sudan. The question of sanctions remains based on the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and it is very clear how the process unfolds. First, there must be significant effort and move towards a political transition that is democratic and constitutional. So far, that is not what is happening in Sudan. Sudan is a full-blown war with the worst humanitarian crisis in Africa, even in the world. So there is a need to look at how the African Union's shared values and its principles are being respected."
   
Adeoye said the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan is a cause of serious concern to the 55-member pan-African bloc ever since the conflict erupted in mid-April 2023 between the SAF and the paramilitary RSF.
   
According to recent estimates by international organizations, the conflict in Sudan has killed more than 28,700 people and displaced over 14 million.
   
The AU suspended Sudan's membership on Oct. 27, 2021, two days after Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council and commander of the SAF, declared a state of emergency and dissolved the ruling council.
   
Responding to Sudan's recent request to the AU to end the suspension of the country's membership, Adeoye said the lifting of the country's suspension requires an inclusive political transition.
   
Noting that the question of sanctions relies on the modalities of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, Adeoye stressed that the process, among other things, necessitates significant efforts toward political transition that is democratic and constitutional.
   
He added that in addition to the worsening conflict-induced humanitarian crisis, the conflict is also damaging the reputation of Sudan, a founding member of the Organization of African Unity, the precursor to the AU.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Addis Ababa.
(XHTV)