The African Union Commission has reiterated its opposition to all forms of external interference in African security matters, highlighting ongoing instability in Sudan as a pressing concern. In a media briefing held in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, reaffirmed the continental body’s stance that the resolution of conflicts within Africa must be guided and implemented by Africans themselves.
Speaking from the AU headquarters in the Ethiopian capital, Adeoye stressed that the organisation’s principle of “African solutions to African problems” is not a rhetorical position but a framework through which sustainable peace must be cultivated. In particular, he condemned what he termed as destabilising involvement by non-African actors in countries experiencing protracted conflict, notably Sudan.
“We, as the African Union, do not believe anyone should be interfering in or fuelling the crisis that is already ongoing in parts of the African continent. So we condemn unequivocally all forms of external interference in Sudan or in any part of our continent,” Adeoye said.
Sudan has witnessed escalating violence since mid 2023, when conflict erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The United Nations has reported that the war has displaced over 7 million people and triggered acute humanitarian challenges, with widespread food insecurity and civilian casualties reported across Khartoum, Darfur and the Kordofan regions.
The African Union, while acknowledging the contributions of regional and international partners, has maintained that its leadership in mediation is non negotiable. Adeoye underscored the AU’s intention to go beyond calls for humanitarian truces, instead working towards a comprehensive ceasefire that includes all warring factions and lays the foundation for political dialogue.
“Our goal is not just a humanitarian ceasefire. It is a comprehensive, unconditional and all out ceasefire,” he said, adding that efforts are ongoing to convene parties under AU auspices to facilitate inclusive negotiations.
Elsewhere on the continent, Adeoye noted that relative calm has returned to Madagascar, where the AU’s Panel of the Wise has been engaging with local authorities and civil society to encourage the restoration of constitutional governance. He urged national stakeholders to design a credible roadmap that reflects the aspirations of the Malagasy people and re establishes democratic order.
The Commissioner also referred to developments in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the signing of the Doha Framework Agreement between the Congolese government and the M23 movement marks what he called a “significant and inclusive step towards stabilisation”. The AU has endorsed the agreement and affirmed its support for the peace process in partnership with regional actors including the East African Community and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.
“All these agreements really mean a lot to the African Union and the African Union has been a partaker of these processes. We commend our partners who have been working with us to make peace happen in eastern DRC,” Adeoye said.
The African Union’s positioning against external involvement reflects wider continental efforts to reframe the way peace and security interventions are conceived. Rather than relying on externally driven mechanisms, the AU is prioritising structurally embedded solutions that acknowledge the complexities of each context while placing African institutions and communities at the centre.
While external partners remain engaged in peacebuilding efforts, there is growing consensus among continental bodies that African-led diplomacy, supported by local knowledge systems, is essential to building sustainable peace. The AU’s statements reflect an effort to challenge reductive or externally imposed narratives, and assert the primacy of African agency in addressing the root causes of conflict and governance crises.
As multiple countries across the continent face intersecting challenges from armed insurgencies, political transitions, and climate-linked displacement, the AU’s call for self-determined conflict resolution is likely to remain a central pillar of its strategy. This shift also reflects the increasing visibility of African diplomatic autonomy in global forums, particularly in light of the Union’s expanded engagement with emerging multilateral partners and platforms.
