Khartoum…… In a surprising move, Sudan announced on Tuesday that it has suspended its involvement in mediation efforts with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional group consisting of East African countries. The suspension comes as a result of Sudan’s dissatisfaction with IGAD’s handling of the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary force.
In a statement released by Sudan’s foreign ministry, it was revealed that the decision to suspend dealings with IGAD was made after the group added Sudan to the agenda of an upcoming summit scheduled for January 18 in Uganda. Furthermore, the ministry expressed its discontent with IGAD’s invitation to the leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, to attend the summit.
The foreign ministry, which has recently been critical of IGAD, declared that it would no longer cooperate with the regional bloc on any Sudanese issue. This announcement comes just two days prior to the scheduled extraordinary summit in Uganda, which was intended to address the conflict in Sudan.
Khartoum had already declined to participate in the IGAD summit, citing the regional group’s failure to implement the outcomes of the previous summit held in Djibouti. The war in Sudan, which erupted on April 15, originated from a political transition plan aimed at moving away from military rule. The conflict has had severe humanitarian consequences, causing devastation in the capital city of Khartoum and fueling ethnically driven violence in the western Darfur region.
Sudan’s decision to suspend mediation efforts with IGAD represents a setback in resolving the ongoing conflict. The move highlights the growing frustration and lack of trust between Sudan and the regional group, further complicating efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution. The international community will be closely watching the developments and seeking alternative avenues to bring the warring parties to the negotiating table in order to alleviate the humanitarian crisis and restore stability in Sudan.
