PAP President Urges Harmonization of Peacekeeping Efforts in Sudan

The President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), His Excellency Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira, has urged the African Union (AU) and other stakeholders to unify their peacekeeping efforts in Sudan to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in the country.

Speaking at the Political Meeting of the AGA-APSA Platform held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Chief Charumbira expressed concern over the lack of coordination among various intervention efforts, which he argued has hindered the peace process. The meeting, held under the theme “Sudan’s Costly War Towards a Peaceful Resolution: How Can Relevant AU Organs/Institutions/RECs/RMs Improve Coordinated Intervention,” provided a platform for leaders to discuss more effective conflict resolution strategies.

In his address, Chief Charumbira criticized the proliferation of disparate peace initiatives, stating, “This high-level intervention is established today and another mushrooms tomorrow, and some of them even work at cross-purposes. These efforts need to be coordinated through a structured governance framework if they are to bring meaningful results.” His remarks underscored the need for a more streamlined approach to conflict resolution within the continent.

A key challenge to resolving the Sudanese conflict, according to the PAP President, is external interference. He called on the AU to confront external actors who are fueling the crisis, stating that their involvement is well known and must be directly addressed.

Furthermore, Chief Charumbira lamented the exclusion of the PAP from AU-led peacekeeping efforts, despite the PAP Protocol’s Article 3(5), which mandates the institution to “Promote peace, security, and stability on the continent.” Despite this sidelining, the PAP has taken independent steps to amplify Sudanese voices, including those of refugees displaced by the conflict and currently residing in South Africa.

The PAP President emphasized that parliamentary diplomacy can serve as a powerful tool in conflict resolution and peacekeeping. He urged the AU Commission to ensure that all relevant AU organs are included in intervention strategies to enhance effectiveness.

Chief Charumbira is currently leading the PAP Bureau in attending pre-session meetings ahead of the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council on February 12-13, 2025, and the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government scheduled for February 15-16, 2025.

The upcoming 38th AU Summit will focus on “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” with reparatory justice and racial healing as key agenda items. Senior leadership elections are also set to take place during the summit.

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