Sudan rejects deployment of African forces, threatens to quit IGAD
July 11, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan issued a strong rejection of the proposed deployment of East African forces and threatened to suspend its membership in the East African bloc of IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development).
On Monday, the IGAD quartet group for the resolution of the Sudanese crisis decided to request a meeting for the East Africa Standby Force (EASF) to explore the potential deployment of troops for civilian protection and ensuring humanitarian access.
Also, in his speech at the opening session of the meeting, Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed spoke about a vacuum of power in Sudan and the need to impose a no-fly zone in Sudan.
On Tuesday, the Sudanese foreign ministry stated that the Government of Sudan rejects the deployment of any foreign forces in Sudan and will deal with them as forces of aggression “.
In exceptional circumstances, such as war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity, the AU is granted the authority to intervene in a Member State according to the provisions of the Constitutive Act.
These forces can be deployed upon the host country’s request but also by a decision of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union or the Assembly of Heads of State.
Sudan did not attend the quartet meeting as it opposes the Kenyan chairmanship. Also, the IGAD chair President of Djibouti and the South Sudanese president did not participate in the meeting but sent their representatives.
The Sudanese foreign ministry attacked the call of the Kenyan president for new leadership in Sudan and also slammed Ethiopian prime minister for his call for a no-fly zone in Sudan.
“Sudan expresses its surprise at the statements of the Ethiopian Prime Minister that there is a vacuum in the leadership of the state, which is interpreted as a lack of recognition of the current leadership of the state,” read the statement.
Further, the foreign ministry condemned his call for a no-fly zone and the removal of heavy artillery and spoke about previous understandings with the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council in Sudan without further details.
Sudan considers the above statements an infringement on the sovereignty of the Sudanese state, said the foreign ministry before adding that “failure to respect the positions of Member States will cause the Government of Sudan to reconsider the usefulness of its membership in IGAD”.
For his part, Malik Agar, the deputy head of the Sovereign Council, on Tuesday rejected the presence of the Forces and Freedom and Change leaders at the final session of the quartet meeting saying they have no right to be at the meeting.
(ST)