Sudan has officially declined to participate in the upcoming IGAD summit scheduled for the 18th of this month in Kampala, Uganda. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) had called for an emergency summit to address the Somali problem and ongoing issues in Sudan.

In a statement from the Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council received by Radio Tamazuj, Sudan expressed its commitment to IGAD’s peace initiatives but cited IGAD’s failure to implement the outcomes of the last summit in Djibouti. The statement highlighted the cancellation of the meeting between Al-Burhan and Hemedti, scheduled for December 28 in Djibouti, without providing a justification.

The Sudanese government believes that holding a summit to discuss Sudan’s issues is unnecessary before implementing the outcomes of the previous summit.

The statement emphasized that the ongoing situation in Sudan is an internal matter, and responding to regional initiatives does not imply relinquishing Sudan’s sovereign right to address the issue domestically.

Meanwhile, the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, announced he accepted the invitation to attend and participate in the IGA summit in Uganda through his official page on the X platform.

Sudanese political analyst Esam Khidir characterized Sudan’s withdrawal from the upcoming IGAD summit as regrettable but expected. Khidir attributed this decision to the de facto government’s consistent stance throughout the past period, indicating that elements from the former regime still wield control within the government.

He highlighted that the de facto government is persisting in pursuing a war agenda and rejecting peace initiatives, aiming to undermine the slogans of the December Revolution through an armed approach.

The analyst predicted that if the current trajectory continues, international intervention may become necessary to protect civilians.

The regional body IGAD has long been lauded for its efforts in promoting peace and development in East Africa, but its inability to secure Sudanese participation in this crucial summit raises questions about its influence.