The 42nd Extraordinary Assembly of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Heads of State and Government which was held on Thursday in Entebbe, Uganda, voiced concerns about the situation in Sudan and recent developments regarding the relations between Ethiopia and Somalia.
According to a communique issued after the extraordinary meeting, the IGAD Assembly said it is concerned by the continued fighting in the Republic of Sudan and the dire security and humanitarian situation occasioned by the war.
“The Assembly reiterated its call for the parties to the conflict to commit to dialogue and negotiation; and in this regard, expressed IGAD’s continued readiness to offer its good offices to facilitate an all-inclusive peace process to end the conflict in close collaboration with all Sudanese stakeholders, AU, and regional and international actors,” it read in part, “The Assembly emphasized that the Republic of the Sudan does not belong to the parties to the conflict only but the Sudanese people and reiterated their call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire as well as cessation of hostilities to end this unjust war affecting the people of the Sudan to pave way for a political dialogue.”
“The Assembly underscored the primary responsibility of IGAD Member States to ensure the will of the people of the Sudan prevails,” the communique added.
The IGAD leaders also recalled the commitment of the parties to the conflict for a face-to-face meeting within 14 days and called upon the parties to meet within two weeks.
“The Assembly stressed that IGAD Member States will utilize all means and capabilities to ensure the conflict in Sudan is resolved peacefully and directed the IGAD Secretariat to provide an update to the Assembly and directed the IGAD Secretariat in coordination with the AUC to revise the Roadmap for the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of Sudan that was adopted at the 14th Ordinary Session of the IGAD Heads of State and Government with clear timelines.
“The Assembly decided within one month to convene a Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led process towards a democratic Government in the Sudan,” the communique stated. “Called upon IGAD in coordination with AU and the international community to mobilize support for the peace process to resolve the conflict in the Republic of the Sudan.”
Sudan’s army commander and de facto ruler, General Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan did not attend the meeting and protested the invitation of his nemesis, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), to attend the IGAD meeting.
Arising from statements and subsequent deliberations on the recent developments in the relations between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Federal Republic of Somalia; the Assembly, said it was deeply concerned.
“The Assembly reaffirmed the cardinal principles of respect for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia; and any engagement should uphold the above cardinal principles, and any agreement or arrangement should be with the consent of the Federal Government of Somalia,” the statement said. “The Assembly called upon the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Federal Republic of Somalia to de-escalate tensions and instead engage in constructive dialogue.”
The tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia were sparked by the former’s desire to lease land to use as a port on the Red Sea in Somaliland which has been struggling to be recognized as an independent country.
The Assembly was chaired by Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti and the Chairperson of the IGAD Heads of State and Government and was attended by President William Ruto of Kenya, President Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia, President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda among others.