The meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the IGAD Quartet Group of Countries on Monday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to discuss the implementation of the IGAD Roadmap for peace in Sudan resolved to consider the deployment of regional troops in Sudan, a communique said.
The meeting which was boycotted by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), was chaired by Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto and attended by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, and Benjamin Bol Mel, the Special Envoy of the Republic of South Sudan among others.
“The IGAD Quartet group of countries notes the regrettable absence of the delegation of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in spite of the invitation and confirmation of attendance,” the communique read in part. “Further resolves to request the East Africa Standby Force (EASF) summit to convene in order to consider the possible deployment of the EASF for the protection of civilians and guarantee humanitarian access.”
The meeting also commended the initiative of the Chair as well as Members of the IGAD Quartet for engaging neighboring countries and all other stakeholders to support ongoing efforts towards the silencing of the guns, resolution of the conflict in the Republic of Sudan, and restoration of the civilian-led democratic transition.
“The IGAD Quartet appreciates the African Union for closely working in coordination with the IGAD Quartet in harmonizing efforts towards the implementation of a common roadmap for the peaceful resolution of the crisis in the Republic of Sudan,” the statement said. “And acknowledges the continuing efforts of the United Nations and key regional and international partners including the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with whom the IGAD Quartet shares an equal commitment to the cause of peace in the Republic of Sudan.”
The IGAD Quartet expressed deep concern regarding the impact of the ongoing war in Sudan which has so far killed thousands of people and displaced almost 3 million people including 2.2 million IDPs and nearly 615,000 refugees that have crossed the border into neighboring countries.
The participants raised concerns about the escalation of the conflict, repeated violations of the various ceasefire agreements, and the spread of violence outside of Khartoum to the other parts of Sudan particularly in Darfur as well as Kordofan where it is assuming ethnic and religious dimensions thereby threatening to deepen the polarization in the country.
“The Quartet underscored that there is no military solution to the conflict in the Republic of Sudan and in this regard, decides to mobilize and concentrate the efforts of all stakeholders towards delivering a face-to-face meeting between the leaders of the warring parties; strongly urges the parties to immediately stop the violence and sign an unconditional and indefinite ceasefire through a cessation of hostilities agreement that shall be supported by an effective enforcement and monitoring mechanism,” the communique further stated. “Concerned by the degenerating humanitarian situation in the Republic of Sudan, decides to take concrete steps to facilitate immediate humanitarian assistance to all Sudanese affected by the conflict with a focus on vulnerable population in particular, Women Children and Persons living with disability”