The President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, this evening received the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf in Pretoria.

They held wide-ranging discussions on regional peace & security, including developments in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo & South Sudan, the Sahel as well as well as the broader implications of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East for African economies & stability.
They underscored the enduring importance of multilateral cooperation & reaffirmed their shared commitment to a rules-based international order.

Chairperson Youssouf expressed appreciation for South Africa’s leadership within the AU, including its diplomatic engagement in conflict resolution efforts & its contribution to continental peace & security mechanisms. He further acknowledged South Africa’s constructive role within the G20 & its continued commitment to advancing regional integration & inclusive global governance.

He also conveyed gratitude for South Africa’s pledge to support the digitalisation of AU archives, noting its importance for institutional memory & knowledge preservation.
The Chairperson commended South Africa’s progressive legal and policy frameworks on refugee protection.

President Ramaphosa expressed his appreciation for the Chairperson’s principled leadership of the AU Commission & reaffirmed South Africa’s unwavering support for the organisation’s priorities & reform agenda.
He also reiterated his government's commitment to diplomatic initiatives aimed at securing sustainable peace in both the Democratic Republic of the Congo & South Sudan.

On global peace & security, the President & the Chairperson called for urgent de-escalation in the Middle East & emphasised the need for dialogue & peaceful resolution of disputes.

Regarding Sudan, they empathised the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire & a return to a civilian-led constitutional order, in line with the aspirations of the Sudanese people & the frameworks endorsed by the AU.
Earlier in the day, H.E. Ronald Lamola
Minister of International Relations & Cooperation of South Africa hosted the Chairperson for a working lunch in preparation for the meeting with President Ramaphosa.

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