IGAD Resolves To Send Ruto, 2 Presidents To Sudan To End Crisis

This is after IGAD called for an immediate cessation of hostilities between the warring parties in Sudan, in response to a similar proposal by President Ruto.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Apr 16, 2023 - 18:51 Updated: Apr 16, 2023 - 19:21
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IGAD Resolves To Send Ruto, 2 Presidents To Sudan To End Crisis
President William Ruto during a virtual meeting with Heads of State at State House on April 16, 2023. /PCS

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has resolved to send President William Ruto, President Salva Kiir (South Sudan) and President Ismail Omar Guelleh (Djibouti) to Sudan at the earliest possible time to reconcile the conflicting groups and restore stability.

This is after IGAD called for an immediate cessation of hostilities between the warring parties in Sudan, in response to a similar proposal by President Ruto.

Ruto and Salva Kiir joined Presidents Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Guelleh and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somalia) for a virtual meeting of Heads of State to discuss the crisis, which has since claimed at least 60 lives.

The Kenyan Head of State asked IGAD leaders to take a firm position to restore peace in Khartoum, adding that Sudan had a lot to lose if the current conflict spiralled into an all-out war.

President William Ruto during a virtual meeting with Heads of State at State House on April 16, 2023. /PCS

"I suggest that as IGAD, we ask for an immediate of cessation of hostilities between the combatants," Ruto remarked.

President Ruto further suggested that the organisation should act upon the concerns raised by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - the paramilitary group.

"We need to provide a mechanism as IGAD and our partners to ensure that the issue of the integration of RSF is resolved and within the timelines.

"We should not allow this matter to torpedo the whole agreement and efforts of many Sudanese people, institutions, IGAD, and the African Union to go down the drain," he reiterated.

Ruto called upon the other Presidents to deploy a high-level delegation to Khartoum to push for an agreement between the two warring parties. The delegation will also be tasked to make sure that the previously reached agreements are concluded.

IGAD decided to send the three presidents, stating that stability in Sudan is key to the social and economic stability of the region. The conflict, they added, undermines the peace progress achieved over the last four months.

The leaders also asked the two groups to provide a safe corridor for humanitarian assistance in Khartoum and other affected towns.

The leaders had also called on the Transitional Sovereign Council General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo to stop the war and return to the negotiation. The two generals had agreed to call a temporary ceasefire to allow the evacuation of wounded civilians in a period titled the 'humanitarian window' that lasted four hours.

Meanwhile, a number of organisations have evacuated the area. The World Food Programme (WFP), an agency of the United Nations (UN) announced that it temporarily halted its humanitarian work in Sudan after the loss of three of its staff in Kabkabiya.

"I am appalled and heartbroken by the tragic deaths of three WFP employees on Saturday, April 15 in violence in Kabkabiya, North Darfur while carrying out their life-saving duties on the front lines of the global hunger crisis," Cindy McCain, executive director of the WFP, said in a statement.

Kenya Airways suspended flights to and from Sudan on April 15 before announcing a delay in flights to Europe the following day.

Smoke billowing following unrest in Sudan on April 15, 2023. /FACEBOOK

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