IGAD envoy denies bias in Sudan conflict mediation
February 13, 2026 (ADDIS ABABA) – The IGAD special envoy for Sudan, Lawrence Korbandy, denied on Friday that the regional bloc was biased toward any party in the country’s civil war, describing the group as an “honest broker” with a long history of conflict resolution.
The comments come days after Sudan and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) announced Khartoum’s return to the bloc following a two-year suspension.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune on the sidelines of an African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Korbandy said IGAD’s mediation mechanisms were available to all sides. He argued that the conflict had moved beyond a domestic crisis and was now impacting regional and international stability.
“Our commitment to integrity and neutrality is absolutely non-negotiable,” Korbandy said.
He described Sudan’s re-entry into IGAD as a significant step toward bringing warring parties to the negotiating table. Before the formal return, the envoy said the bloc had already engaged with all relevant stakeholders to outline a roadmap for a comprehensive solution.
Korbandy said that throughout 2026, IGAD’s efforts would centre on a “quintet committee” consisting of the African Union, the European Union, the Arab League, and the United Nations. The group’s primary focus remains on securing a humanitarian truce and a permanent ceasefire.
The envoy highlighted the committee’s call for an immediate halt to military escalation and the use of destructive weaponry that disproportionately harms civilians.
“The protection of civilians and vital national infrastructure is a fundamental obligation under international law,” Korbandy said, adding that humanitarian law applies to all parties involved in the hostilities.
He called for safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all affected areas and stressed that “gross violations” of international law would not be overlooked, with perpetrators held to account.
IGAD remains committed to facilitating an inclusive political dialogue between Sudanese stakeholders to end the war and establish a framework for a peaceful political transition, the envoy added.