In a significant diplomatic move, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has extended an invitation to Sudanese army commander Abdul Fattah Al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces commander Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo to engage in face-to-face talks within the next 14 days, with the aim of bringing an end to the conflict that has persisted since mid-April.
Originally scheduled for a meeting in Djibouti late last December, the encounter between Burhan and Dagalo was postponed by the Sudanese Foreign Ministry due to technical reasons, as communicated by their Djiboutian counterparts.
Hopes were high for a resolution at the extraordinary summit of IGAD presidents in Uganda on Thursday, but the absence of key evidence and the failure to implement previous summit decisions left the situation unresolved. In response, the Sudanese government protested Dagalo’s summit invitation, leading to the decision to freeze dealings with the regional organization concerning the Sudanese peace file.
Following the summit, Dagalo engaged in a meeting with IGAD leaders, culminating in a joint statement that called for coordinated efforts with the African Union and the international community. The objective is to mobilize support for the peace process and ultimately resolve the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
During the summit, IGAD Heads of State welcomed the decisions of AU Commission President Moussa Fakke to appoint members of the High-Level Panel on Sudan. They emphasized the need for close collaboration between the Panel, IGAD, and other stakeholders to facilitate the peace process in Sudan.
Expressing deep concern about the ongoing fighting in Sudan and the escalating security and humanitarian crisis resulting from the conflict, the leaders reiterated their call for the involved parties to commit to dialogue and negotiations. The final statement highlighted the commitment of the conflicting parties to a direct meeting within the next 14 days and invited them to convene within two weeks.
Affirming IGAD’s readiness to provide assistance in facilitating a comprehensive peace process, the leaders emphasized that Sudan belongs not only to the conflicting parties but also to the Sudanese people.
They renewed their call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, emphasizing the need to halt hostilities to pave the way for political dialogue.
Underlining the primary responsibility of IGAD member states to uphold the sovereign will of the Sudanese people, the statement outlined the commitment of IGAD member states to use all means and capabilities to ensure a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Sudan.
The leaders directed the secretariat of the Commission to provide the latest developments to the General Assembly. Additionally, they instructed the IGAD secretariat, in coordination with the African Union Commission, to review the road map for resolving the conflict in Sudan adopted at the fourteenth ordinary session of the IGAD presidents, with clear timetables. Within one month, a Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led process is envisioned towards the formation of a democratic government in Sudan.
