Djibouti says Sudan returning to IGAD regional bloc after two-year suspension

February 8, 2026 (DJIBOUTI) – Djibouti, the current chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), announced on Sunday that Sudan has rejoined the regional organization, a step intended to restore regional cooperation.

Sudan quit the East African regional body in January 2024 to protest the participation of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo at an IGAD summit in Uganda. The RSF has been battling Sudan’s army in a civil war that began in April 2023.

The Djibouti foreign ministry said the return was confirmed in an official letter from the Sudanese foreign minister to the IGAD executive secretary. The Sudanese government has not yet commented.

The decision follows a visit by Prime Minister Kamil Idris to Djibouti on January 28 for talks with President Ismail Omar Guelleh and IGAD leadership. Shortly after those meetings, the bloc issued a statement condemning the RSF for the first time since the conflict started 33 months ago.

Djibouti said Sudan’s return would improve coordination among member states and help the organization address regional challenges.

IGAD is a regional grouping headquartered in Djibouti that includes Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda. Eritrea’s membership is currently suspended.