President Yoweri Museveni has convened a virtual meeting of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council.
Museveni is the current president of the African Union Peace and Security Council for June 2024.
During the meeting, the leaders discussed the current conflict in Sudan and explored ways to improve coordinated efforts between regional and international partners to achieve peace and stability for the Sudanese people.
Speaking from the Nakasero State Lodge in Kampala, President Museveni observed on Friday (June 21) that the war in Sudan was caused by the ideological mistakes of the country’s leaders.
Museveni highlighted mistake number two: using force and weapons instead of using dialogue.
“It has been 70 years since our neighboring country, which is part of this region, has been at war more or less continuously and this is due to some mistakes that we talked about many times with the Sudanese leaders. The first mistake was the identity politics of Africans versus Arabs or vice versa, identity of religions; Muslims against Christians. This is the reason that caused war for a long time. We spoke with Sudanese leaders like General Bashir. This is the problem in other parts of Africa too. Even here in Uganda we had the same problem; people who promoted identity politics instead of the politics of the people’s interests. I am this religion, I am that tribe. This was the original problem,” he said.
A statement from the Presidential Press Unit states that Museveni highlighted mistake number two: using force and weapons instead of using dialogue.
“Error number three: when force is used, unprepared people are used, who are not disciplined and who have the wrong ideology, but who are armed with internal and external forces. This is how you get to this catastrophe that you are seeing. Even if it is a war, it does not need to affect the entire population unless there is some problem with the managers of that conflict,” he noted.
According to a statement from the Presidential Press Unit, Museveni added:
“War crimes are the result of those mistakes.
Therefore, I am happy with the Security Council and other members who have attended.
They are all begging the Sudanese factions to stop the war, establish a ceasefire, engage in dialogue and hand over the country to its owners; “The Sudanese people vote for the person they want.”
Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairman of the African Union Commission, informed the meeting that as leaders, they must do everything necessary to ensure that a ceasefire is achieved in Sudan.
“The African Union, with the implementation of its council decisions, we have been engaging all those across the spectrum of conflict to facilitate the peace process,” he said.
“The protection of human rights and international humanitarian law will only be possible if national reconciliation is achieved. It is for this reason that I call for the strengthening of international solidarity to ensure a democratic transition in Sudan leading to free and fair elections to avoid all types of crises that could create more chaos in the country and the region,” he added.
Mahamat also praised President Museveni for his efforts in facilitating the peace process in Sudan.
IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu also briefed the meeting on the need for coordinated peace efforts between partners and friends of Sudan.
“We must prioritize the Sudanese people who have suffered immensely. “IGAD remains committed to finding a path to peace for our Sudanese brothers and sisters, believing that despite the tragic year of war, there is still hope for a peaceful resolution,” she stated.
Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, chair of the African Union High-Level Panel on Sudan, said the conflict in Sudan is worse than that in Ukraine and Gaza.
He stressed that the situation has reached a level of urgency that requires bold action by the Peace and Security Council.
“Sudan is heading towards an unprecedented hunger crisis. The vast majority of hungry places are in areas devastated by 15 months of fighting and beyond the reach of humanitarian aid. More than two million people face emergency and even catastrophic levels of hunger. 75 people die every day from hunger and disease in the Zam Zam camp alone. More than 15,000 deaths have been recorded and at least 10 million people have also been displaced. These figures are appalling and are a reason for all of us to act urgently to end the conflict,” he noted.
On the other hand, the leaders demanded that the warring parties, namely the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), immediately stop the fighting and prioritize the interests of Sudan and its people.
They also emphasized that there is no viable and sustainable military solution to the conflict and that only genuine dialogue can lead to a sustainable solution to the current situation.
The leaders further emphasized the need to ensure the protection of civilians in Sudan and, in this regard, called on the AU Commission, in coordination with the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, to investigate and make recommendations to the Council of Peace and Security on the practical measures to be taken. undertaken for the protection of civilians.
A representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Antonio Guterres, also addressed the meeting.
