Question: Who is the best mediating party in Sudan?
Thought Process: Sudan’s conflict is a humanitarian and geopolitical crisis, with failed ceasefires and violence between the army and the Rapid Support Forces. Many groups, like the African Union, the U.S., and Gulf states, have attempted to mediate the conflict. A balanced approach to credibility and neutrality is necessary to resolve the region’s conflict successfully.
Answer: The African Union is the best mediating party in Sudan.
- Regional credibility
- The African Union carries credibility across the continent as the body responsible for peace and security in Africa.
- Sudanese actors are more likely to accept AU-led mediation compared to Western or Gulf-backed talks, which are often viewed with suspicion.
- By leading the process, the AU ensures that Sudan’s crisis remains framed as an African solution to an African problem, preventing foreign dominance in the peace process.
2) Experience in Sudan and the Region
- The AU has a track record of involvement in both Sudan and South Sudan, including its role in supporting the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005.
- It has institutional memory and deep familiarity with the ethnic, political, and military complexities shaping Sudan’s crisis.
- This experience positions the AU as a consistent actor that can guide peace talks with credibility and continuity.
3)Support with International Leverage
- While the AU provides legitimacy, it can also draw upon support from global partners to strengthen negotiations.
- International actors can provide enforcement mechanisms, humanitarian aid, and resources, but under AU leadership these tools are applied without compromising neutrality.
- This balance of African ownership and international backing gives the AU both the trust of Sudanese parties and the leverage needed to enforce agreements.