The African Union in Sudan: Perspectives from the Sudanese Media

Author: Willow J. Berridge

This policy brief discusses media perspectives on key moments of the AU’s involvement in talks and political processes in Sudan, such as its attempts to support the resolution of conflicts in Darfur and Abyei, the post-2014 National Dialogue Process, and the transitional process that followed the toppling of Umar al-Bashir in 2019.

This paper introduces a number of recommendations relevant to international actors in Sudan and other conflict affected countries, including (i) using independent media organs to identify a wider range of civic actors who need to be engaged with through internationally facilitated processes and (ii) adoption of careful media relations strategies to prevent hardline actors undermining talks. It also recommends that civic actors continue to use the media to create an alternative fora to those established by internationally convened talks.