Ugandan President Museveni hosts talks on Sudan conflict

Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni blamed the conflict in Sudan on “ideological mistakes by the country’s leaders”.

Museveni, who currently chairs the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, made the remarks while chairing a virtual meeting of Heads of State and Government of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council at Nakasero, Uganda’s state residence, on Friday.

The leaders explored ways to strengthen coordinated efforts among regional and international partners to achieve peace and stability for the Sudanese people.

“Our neighbours have not been at war for 70 years and the reason for the war is a number of mistakes which we have discussed many times with Sudanese leaders. The first mistake is identity politics of Africans versus Arabs and vice versa. Religious identity politics; Muslims versus Christians, and this is a problem in other parts of Africa as well. Even in Uganda we have the same problem; people are promoting identity politics instead of politics of the people’s interest,” he said.

Another mistake Museveni highlighted was the use of force and weapons instead of dialogue.

“When you use force, you deploy people who are unprepared, undisciplined and have the wrong ideology. That’s the cause of the disaster you’re seeing. Wars don’t affect entire populations unless there’s something wrong with the managers of the conflict,” he noted.

AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat told the meeting that leaders must do everything they can to ensure a ceasefire in Sudan.

“The African Union implements the decisions of your Council and engages with the parties to the conflict to advance the peace process,” he said.

“Only through national reconciliation can human rights and international humanitarian law be protected. That is why I call for greater international solidarity to ensure Sudan’s democratic transition and avoid crises that could cause further chaos in the country and the region.”

Mahamat expressed appreciation for President Museveni’s efforts to promote Sudan’s peace process.

Dr. Workne Gbeyehu, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, also briefed the meeting on the need for coordination of peace efforts among Sudan’s partners and friends.

“We must prioritize the Sudanese people who have suffered tremendously. IGAD remains committed to finding a path to peace for our Sudanese brothers and sisters and believes that despite this tragic year of war, hope for a peaceful solution remains,” he said.

The Chairperson of the AU High-Level Panel on Sudan, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, said the conflict in Sudan was more serious than those in Ukraine and Gaza, stressing that the situation had reached an emergency level that required bold action by the Peace and Security Council.

The leaders called on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) to immediately cease fighting. They also stressed that there is no viable and sustainable military solution to the conflict.

The leaders further stressed the need to ensure the protection of civilians and requested the AU Commission and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to investigate and make recommendations to the Peace and Security Council on measures required to protect civilians.

Representatives of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also spoke at the meeting.