UN, AU and IGAD Diplomats to meet in New York on Sudan crisis

Diplomats and senior officials from the United Nations, African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) are expected to convene in New York on September 21 for a high-level ministerial meeting focused on efforts to end the war in Sudan.

The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and is expected to focus on securing a humanitarian truce and advancing a political process aimed at ending the conflict.

The planned gathering comes as diplomatic efforts to resolve Sudan’s war continue, with multiple international and regional initiatives seeking to bring the warring parties toward a negotiated settlement. Previous mediation efforts involving the AU and IGAD have faced significant challenges, including disagreements over mediation mechanisms and limited progress toward a durable ceasefire.

The meeting is expected to provide an opportunity for international and regional actors to coordinate their approaches and press for measures that would reduce fighting, improve humanitarian access and create conditions for a broader political dialogue.

The Sudanese conflict, which began in April 2023, has generated one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with millions of people displaced and widespread needs for food, healthcare and protection.

The emphasis on a humanitarian truce is consistent with recent international calls for an immediate reduction in hostilities as a first step toward a permanent ceasefire and a Sudanese-owned political process.

IGAD has previously participated in high-level international discussions on de-escalation in Sudan, while the African Union has continued to advocate for coordinated diplomatic efforts to address the conflict.

The September 21 meeting will therefore be closely watched for signs of greater coordination among international mediators and for any concrete proposals aimed at securing a humanitarian pause and restarting a credible political process in Sudan.

Mustaqbal