Meeting of the Expanded Mechanism on Sudan and Press Conference of the AU High-Level Panel on Sudan Following its Recent Shuttle Diplomacy in the East African Region

May 5, 2024, 12:31 p.m.

MEDIA ADVISORY

Date: 25^th April 2024

Meeting of the Expanded Mechanism on Sudan and Press Conference of the AU High-Level Panel on Sudan Following its Recent Shuttle Diplomacy in the East African Region

INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

What: The members of the African Union High-Level Panel on Sudan (HLP-Sudan) will brief media representatives in Addis Ababa on the Panel’s activities and plans, including the outcomes of their recent shuttle diplomacy missions to East African countries, namely; South Sudan, Uganda and Kenya, from 23 to 28 April 2024.

The press conference will be preceded by a meeting of the Expanded Mechanism on Sudan, which will deliberate on recent political and security developments, including a: i) Briefing by the AU High-Level Panel on Sudan on its activities and plans for the next phase; ii) Briefing by the conveners of the Jeddah Process on preparations for the next round of negotiations; iii) Briefing by the conveners of the Paris Conference on its outcomes and iv) Briefing by the UN on the recent UNSC meeting on Sudan.

When: Monday 29 April 2024.

Where: Small Conference Room 3, New Conference Centre, African Union Headquarters.

Time: 2:00. pm. – 4: 00. pm. (EAT)

Who: The African Union High-Level Panel on Sudan (HLP-Sudan) is composed of H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, AU High Representative for Silencing the Guns (Chairperson); H.E. Dr. Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe, Former Vice President of the Republic of Uganda (Member) and; H.E. Amb. Francisco Madeira, Former Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission (SRCC) to Somalia and Head of AMISOM/ATMIS (Member).

Why: The African Union High-Level Panel on Sudan (HLP-Sudan) was appointed by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mousa Faki Mahamat, in January 2024, following the conclusion of the 1185^th AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) meeting, held at the ministerial level, on 15 November 2023, requesting the Chairperson to appoint such a Panel to mediate the Sudanese conflict.

The Panel is mandated to work with all Sudanese stakeholders; “all civilian forces, military belligerents and regional and global actors including the IGAD, UN and League of Arab States, to ensure an all-inclusive process towards the swift restoration of peace, constitutional order and stability in Sudan”. The mandate is anchored on the pillars of the AU Roadmap for Conflict Resolution in Sudan approved by the PSC at the Heads of State level under the Chairmanship of H.E. President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda in May 2023.

To realize its mandate, the HLP-Sudan has recently undertaken shuttle diplomacy missions to Sudan and neighbouring countries to understand their perspectives of the conflict and how it impacts their country and to solicit their support for the HLP-Sudan’s activities to launch an inclusive political process amongst all Sudanese.

Media representatives are invited to cover the opening ceremony of the Expanded Mechanism on Sudan meeting and the press conference of the members of the AU High-Level Panel on Sudan following its recent shuttle diplomacy engagements, mainly in the East African region.

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Fiona Lortan I Senior Political Officer I Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department I African Union Commission I E-mail: FionaL@africa-union.org

For media enquiries, please contact:

Mr. Paschal Chem-Langhee I Communications Coordinator I Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department I African Union Commission I Email: chem-langheep@africa-union.org

Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar I Senior Communication Officer I African Union Commission I Email: gamalk@africa-union.org