Civil Society Open Letter To H.E Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson Of The African Union Commission

A call for urgent action to protect civilians in Sudan

In the pursuit of peace and reconciliation, there can be no room for half-hearted efforts or wavering resolve. True leadership demands unwavering commitment, courage, and humility in the face of adversity. Let us draw inspiration from the lessons of the past to forge a path towards a brighter and more peaceful future for all Sudanese

Dear Excellency Youssouf,

REFERENCE: AN APPEAL FOR URGENT ACTION AND MAKING SUDAN YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITY

We write as voices of a continent that cannot stand silent in the face of unspeakable atrocities and mass starvation in Sudan. As you begin your role as Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), our message and request to you is one of urgency: the catastrophe in Sudan must be your top priority.

The African Union (AU) Special Envoy on the Prevention of Genocide, H.E. Adama Dieng, has issued grave warnings of “atrocity crimes on an unimaginable scale” in Sudan. The world is watching in horror, yet decisive action remains unseen. We cannot let history repeat itself and watch another genocide unfold on African soil. Your election into this role is an opportunity for decisive leadership and action.

Your Excellency,

We urge you to act with the full weight of your office and the moral gravity of the African Union to:

1. Apply the utmost diplomatic pressure to all parties to commit to a ceasefire and unfettered humanitarian aid by agreeing to cease attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. However, the gravity and immediacy of the risks to civilians mean that civilian protection measures cannot wait for a ceasefire.
2. Call for an emergency AU Summit on Sudan at the level of Heads of State and Government to urgently accelerate the implementation of concrete civilian protection and atrocity prevention measures, including considering the deployment of a physical protection force. Too many lives have been lost in the nine months since the AU-Peace and Security Council’s (AU-PSC’s) decision of 21 June 2024 for this Summit to be held.
3. Demand an end to political, military, and financial support for the warring parties by external actors, by regularly engaging with representatives and leaders within Africa and globally. The fueling of this conflict must stop.
4. Work with rotating Chairs to ensure Sudan is a standing agenda item in the AU-PSC’s monthly sessions to signify the urgency of the situation. This should include its Open Sessions to allow expert evidence submissions and personal testimonies from those directly affected by the conflict. The AU must be seen to exhibit clear commitments to action to drive solutions and real-world impact.
5. Work towards the design and implementation of a one-Africa response plan of action on Sudan, including by convening a Joint AU-IGAD session, in liaison with members of the Expanded Mechanism Sudan, and discourage the proliferation of efforts.
6. Bring together all appointed Special Envoys on Sudan to forge a unified approach to mediation and to ensure that the protection of civilians remains paramount in all diplomatic efforts.

Your Excellency, the cost of ineffective efforts has been the human lives lost to date. And the numbers keep on increasing daily. The lack of progress by the AU allows more civilians to be massacred, more women to be raped, more families to be torn apart by this needless war. The credibility of the organization you lead is at stake.

In solidarity with our Sudanese sisters and brothers, and looking forward to your action-oriented leadership, we stand ready to support the African Union’s vital efforts, and crucially to support inclusive and participatory deliberations with Sudanese civil society.

With urgency and solidarity,

1. Africa Climate and Health Alliance
2. African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies
3. African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS)
4. African Coalition on Green Growth
5. African Leadership Centre
6. African Renaissance Sustainable Development
7. Africans Rising
8. Africans Rising for Unity, Justice, Peace and Dignity
9. Africa Center
10. Asmaa Society for Development, Esmaa Development Association
11. Association of Patriots of Burundi (Appbu)
12. Association Of Evangelicals in Africa
13. Cameroon Youths and Students Forum for Peace
14. Centre for Climatology and Applied Research
15. Burundian coalition of human rights defensers (CBDDH)
16. Collaborative for Peace in Sudan
17. Confederation of Sudanese Civil Society Organizations, Confederation of Sudanese civil society organizations
18. Confluence Advisory
19. Congo Peace Network
20. Conscious Millennials Foundation
21. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)
22. DAI-CLAIM
23. Darfur Women Action Group
24. Denis Hurley Peace Institute
25. Disabled Children and Female Empowerment Network
26. East Africa Civil Society Organisations Forum (EACSOF)
27. Emmaus International
28. Enowem Network
29. Together for the support of human rights defenders in danger (ESDDH)
30. FEMNET African Women’s Development and Communication Network
31. FIFA CAMEROON
32. Fikra for Studies and Development (FikraSD)
33. Forum for Consciousness and Development “Focode” Burundi
34. Friends of Angola
35. Gesr Centre for Development
36. Human Rights Reporters Ghana
37. Humanity United
38. Inspiring Africa
39. Institute For Justice and Reconciliation
40. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
41. Kenya Human Rights Commission
42. Burundian League for Human Rights Iteka
43. Movement of women and girls for peace and security in Burundi
44. Movement for Democracy, Development and Transparency Cameroon
45. NAC (Cabinda Activists Center)
46. Network of the Independent Commission for Human Rights in North Africa (CIDH AFRICA)
47. Nora Organisation for Combating Violence Against Women and Girls
48. PALU Union (PALU)
49. Powering Young Initiatives
50. Regional Center for Governance and Security Policy Initiative (RCGSPI)
51. SADC Council of NGOs
52. Self Help group Association
53. Weed
54. Southern Africa Climate Change Coalition
55. Sudan Rights Watch Network (SRWN)
56. Sudan Transnational Consortium
57. Sudanese Youth Network (SYN)
58. The Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya)
59. The Libyan Organization for Cultural Exchang and Democracy (the Libyan Organization for Cultural and Democracy)
60. The Mouvement has Horo
61. The Reformers Initiative for Development in Africa (Reformers of Africa)
62. The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA)
63. Wahenga Youth Group
64. Women and Girls for Peace and Security in Burundi
65. Women’s Civic & Political Groups (MANSAM)
    Political and civil women’s groups (MS)
66. Women’s International Peace Centre
67. Youth Citizens Observers Network (YCON)
68. Youth Citizens Observers Network (YCON-Sudan)
69. Youth Vision The Gambia
70. Zimbabwe Climate Change Coalition