Pretoria – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa received African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf in Pretoria on Wednesday evening for wide-ranging talks covering some of the continent’s most pressing peace and security challenges.
The two leaders discussed developments in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, the Sahel region and the broader impact of the ongoing Middle East crisis on African economies and stability. They called for urgent de-escalation in the Middle East and stressed the need for dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes.
On Sudan, both Ramaphosa and Youssouf called for an immediate ceasefire and a return to a civilian-led constitutional order, in line with the aspirations of the Sudanese people and the frameworks endorsed by the AU. 
Youssouf used the meeting to acknowledge South Africa’s standing on the continent, expressing appreciation for Pretoria’s leadership within the AU, including its diplomatic engagement in conflict resolution and its contributions to continental peace and security mechanisms. He also recognised South Africa’s constructive role within the G20 and its commitment to advancing regional integration and inclusive global governance.
The AU Commission Chairperson also conveyed gratitude for South Africa’s pledge to support the digitalisation of AU archives, describing it as important for institutional memory and knowledge preservation, and commended South Africa’s progressive legal and policy frameworks on refugee protection.
Ramaphosa in turn expressed appreciation for Youssouf’s leadership of the AU Commission and reaffirmed South Africa’s support for the organisation’s priorities and reform agenda. He also reiterated his government’s commitment to diplomatic efforts aimed at securing sustainable peace in both the DRC and South Sudan.
Earlier in the day, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola hosted the AU Commission Chairperson for a working lunch ahead of the evening meeting with President Ramaphosa.
