AU, Germany To Co-Host Third Sudan Conference In Berlin

German foreign minister pledges supporting Pretoria agreement implementation

By Sara Solomon

Germany and the African Union (AU) have reaffirmed plans to co-host an international conference on Sudan in Berlin in April 2026, aimed at advancing peace efforts and mobilizing humanitarian support amid the country’s protracted conflict.

German Federal Foreign Minister Dr. Johann Wadephul confirmed Germany’s commitment during talks with AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssou, held on the margins of his official visit to Addis Ababa this week. The Berlin meeting will mark the third international Sudan conference, following earlier conferences in Paris and London.

The development comes as Sudan’s war, now approaching its third year, continues to devastate the country. Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in Khartoum on April 15, 2023, before spreading to other regions nationwide.

The United Nations has described the conflict as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. More than 21 million people are not getting enough to eat, and famine has been confirmed in parts of the country where humanitarian access is practically impossible.

The fighting has forced nearly 12 million people to flee their homes and seek shelter whether elsewhere in Sudan, or across the border. Furthermore, some 3.7 million children and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are malnourished. Over 20 million people require health assistance and 21 million desperately need food, the UN said last week.

Since the start of the conflict in 2023, WHO has verified 201 attacks on health care, resulting in 1858 deaths and 490 injuries.

UN agencies like UNHCR say billions of dollars are required for the Sudan crisis in 2026. The WFP alone urgently requires USD 700 million to continue its operations in Sudan from January to June 2026.

Wadephul’s visit to Ethiopia and the AU headquarters on Thursday, 22 January 2026, marked his first official trip to Sub-Saharan Africa since assuming office last May.

Arriving from Nairobi, Kenya, the foreign minister led a delegation that included three members of the German parliament and senior business leaders. In talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD), the two sides agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation, with Germany recognizing Ethiopia’s pivotal role in promoting stability across the Horn of Africa.

During a separate meeting with Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos (PhD), the ministers marked 120 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Discussions focused on peacebuilding, economic cooperation, and global partnerships. Germany reiterated its support for the implementation of the Pretoria Peace Agreement and emphasized the importance of a stable investment climate to attract German businesses. Both sides also pledged closer collaboration on counter-terrorism and climate action, particularly as Ethiopia prepares to host COP32.

The diplomatic mission also featured a high-level German business delegation, including representatives from pharmaceutical giant Bayer, signaling strong interest in entering and expanding operations in Ethiopia. The engagement was formalized at an investment and trade forum in Addis Ababa organized by the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC).