IGAD quartet continues efforts to facilitate face-to-face meeting for Sudan’s rival generals
July 10, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – The IGAD quartet, comprised of regional leaders, is determined to find a resolution to the three-month conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) by organizing a face-to-face meeting between the rival generals.
Chaired by Kenyan President William Ruto and attended by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, the IGAD Quartet Group convened in Addis Ababa on Monday. However, Presidents Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti and Salva Kiir of South Sudan were absent from the meeting.
While the Sudanese military-led government delegation arrived in the Ethiopian capital, they refused to participate in the meeting due to their objection to the Kenyan leader’s chairmanship. On the other hand, the RSF was represented by Yousif Izzat.
In their concluding statement, the quartet expressed regret over the absence of the Sudanese army delegation. It further stressed that a military solution is not viable for the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
decides to mobilize and concentrate the efforts of all stakeholders towards delivering a face-to-face meeting between the leaders of the warring parties;
The meeting further resolved “to mobilize and concentrate the efforts of all stakeholders towards delivering a face-to-face meeting between the leaders of the warring parties”. In addition, the quartet urged an immediate cessation of violence and the signing of an unconditional and indefinite ceasefire through a cessation of hostilities agreement supported by an effective enforcement and monitoring mechanism.
Although the Sudanese army and the RSF previously signed several cessation of hostilities agreements as part of the Jeddah process mediated by the US and Saudi Arabia, the truces were not upheld.
Nevertheless, the IGAD group committed to taking concrete steps to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the conflict-affected Sudanese population, given the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country.
The meeting also decided to request the convening of the East Africa Standby Force (EASF) summit to explore the potential deployment of EASF for civilian protection and ensuring humanitarian access.
The absence of monitoring forces on the ground was considered one of the primary reasons for the failure of the Jeddah process to halt the fighting in Sudan.
The quartet welcomed the upcoming meeting of Sudan’s neighbouring states, scheduled for July 13 in Cairo, recognizing it as a supportive initiative to achieve the shared objectives of the IGAD Quartet for peace and stability in the Republic of Sudan.
Furthermore, the IGAD leaders condemned the widespread and grave human rights violations. They committed to collaborating closely with the international community to establish a robust monitoring and accountability mechanism to bring the perpetrators to justice.
(ST)