Sudan suspends engagement with IGAD over interference in internal affairs

PORT SUDAN, Sudan

Sudan has suspended its engagement and frozen all dealings with the IGAD regarding the resolution of the ongoing conflict in the country, citing the organization’s interference in its internal affairs.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Djiboutian foreign minister, in his capacity as the current IGAD chair, of the government’s decision to disengage from IGAD’s involvement in resolving Sudan’s crisis.

The disengagement was decided in response to Sudan’s inclusion on the agenda of the extraordinary meeting without prior consultation with the Sudanese government, and the IGAD’s invitation to a militia leader to attend the Kampala summit.

“Sudan considers these actions to be a violation of its sovereignty and a serious breach of IGAD’s charters and the established norms governing the operations of international and regional organizations,” stressed the statement.

Sudanese officials are upset that a “rebel leader” was invited to a meeting for heads of state and government.

On January 13, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the head of the Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan would not attend the 42nd summit due to the failure of the IGAD to secure a meeting between him and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). 

Sudan called for the implementation of this meeting before attending any further IGAD summits.