IGAD to co-facilitate Sudan humanitarian ceasefire talks
October 27, 2023 (DJIBOUTI) – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) will co-facilitate Sudan’s humanitarian ceasefire talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the East African bloc announced on Friday.
According to a statement released by IGAD, Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD’s Executive Secretary, arrived in Jeddah to join Saudi and US facilitators in their efforts to establish a “durable humanitarian ceasefire.”
Gebeyehu is representing the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government and the African Union, as confirmed by Molly Phee, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, during a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on October 24.
IGAD further stated that it will continue to engage with Sudanese stakeholders to convene a Sudanese-led and owned comprehensive, all-inclusive political dialogue in the IGAD region.
The Saudi-US-brokered talks resumed in Jeddah on Thursday after a four-month suspension following the signing of the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan on May 11 and an Agreement on a Short-Term Ceasefire and Humanitarian Arrangements on May 20.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke out on April 15 when the two parties failed to reach an agreement on the integration of paramilitary forces into the national army.
The armed conflict displaced nearly six million people in need of food, water, and shelter and resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians.
Sudan has been in political and economic turmoil since the October 2021 coup that overthrew the civilian-led government.
International efforts to mediate a ceasefire and political dialogue in Sudan have been ongoing, but so far, they have been unsuccessful.
To ensure a successful outcome for the facilitators this time, the aim is to bring the parties to sign a durable ceasefire to ensure humanitarian access to millions of Sudanese in need. This step would also pave the way for an inclusive intra-Sudanese political dialogue brokered by the IGAD, AU and UN.
The IGAD has set up a quartet group led by the Kenyan president who is contested by the Sudanese army leaders due to his business relationship with the RSF leaders..
Also, the African Union has faced difficulties with the Sudanese parties. The AU commission exchanged accusations last September over a meeting with the RSF delegation with the military-led government. Additionally, its proposed approach for a political process, including the banned National Congress Party, has been rejected by the pro-democracy forces in Sudan.
(ST)