The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), leading the Quadripartite Mediation Committee in Sudan, has expressed regret over the Sudanese government’s absence. In its closing statement regarding the ongoing crisis in Sudan, IGAD affirmed that the mediation initiative aims to support ceasefire efforts and pave the way towards a political solution.
IGAD implored both warring parties to cease hostilities immediately without conditions, echoing goals set by Saudi Arabia and the United States to reach a political solution. The statement highlighted the committee’s decision to “mobilize efforts of all concerned parties to convene a direct meeting between the leaders of the warring factions,” indicating that IGAD would immediately initiate communications with the African Union to realize this goal.
The mediation countries expressed concern about the consequences of the crisis in Sudan and appreciated the role of neighboring countries, particularly in accommodating refugees fleeing the conflict. The statement warned that the war has expanded and taken an ethnic turn. The mediating countries also revealed their decision to exert substantial efforts to hold a direct meeting between the Sudanese factions.
The Sudanese capital Khartoum hosted an IGAD summit today, Monday, to discuss the Sudanese crisis. Two delegations representing the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces were supposed to participate in the summit. The US Department of State had previously urged these forces to end the fighting immediately and return to their barracks.
The United States reiterated its call for regional countries to prevent any foreign intervention or military support, noting that this would only intensify and prolong the conflict. The Sudanese Foreign Ministry confirmed that the government delegation’s arrival in Addis Ababa underscored its seriousness in participating in the IGAD meeting. It stressed that the boycott of the Quadripartite IGAD meeting came about due to Kenya’s unchanged presidency despite requests from the Sudanese government and Sudan’s Sovereign Council over a month ago.
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry said its demands for a change in Kenya’s presidency for the committee had not been implemented. It pointed out that Kenyan President William Ruto had not been neutral in the ongoing crisis. The Sudanese government delegation will remain in Addis Ababa to respond to its demands.
The statement added, “Regrettably, it turned out that the chairmanship of the Quadripartite Committee has not been changed, knowing that the government had requested at the Djibouti summit to change the chairmanship of President William Ruto, President of Kenya for the Committee… But our delegation’s request was not responded to until the issuance of this statement.”
Meanwhile, the Rapid Support Forces criticized the government delegation’s boycott of the Quadripartite Committee meeting. They expressed surprise at the Armed Forces delegation boycotting the first session for unobjective and flimsy reasons despite their arrival in Addis Ababa.
Earlier, “Al Arabiya” and “Al Hadath” sources stated that the Sudanese government delegation in Addis Ababa boycotted the IGAD meeting protesting Kenya’s chairmanship of the Quadripartite Committee meeting. The sources added that the Sudanese military delegation boycotted the meeting, accusing Kenya of being a non-neutral party in the crisis, affirming that it would leave Addis Ababa if Kenya insisted on chairing the IGAD Committee.
This comes as the U.S. announced the visit of the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs to Addis Ababa. The U.S. State Department also urged the warring parties in Sudan to end the fighting and return to their barracks, insisting on the necessity of preventing any foreign intervention in Sudan, considering that there is no military solution to the conflict.
On Sunday, “Al Arabiya” and “Al Hadath” sources reported that the current President of IGAD, Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh, would not attend the Quadripartite IGAD summit intended to discuss the situation in Sudan. The sources also mentioned that South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit would not attend and would send his advisor. Kenyan President William Ruto and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed confirmed their attendance.
