“IGAD Envoy to Visit Sudan in January for Peace Mediation”

The East African bloc IGAD’s envoy to Sudan announced plans on Monday to visit the war-torn country next month in an effort to mediate the ongoing conflict. This comes a year after Sudan froze its relations with the regional bloc and suspended its membership.

Sudan has been engulfed in brutal fighting since April last year, with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, also known as Hemeti, clashing with the Sudanese Armed Forces under the leadership of Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

IGAD, along with the United States and Saudi Arabia, has made repeated attempts to mediate between the two warring generals, but efforts have thus far been unsuccessful. In January, the bloc invited Daglo to a summit in Uganda, leading to a strong backlash from the Sudanese government, which accused IGAD of “violating Sudan’s sovereignty” and setting a “dangerous precedent.” In response, Sudan suspended its membership in the bloc.

Lawrence Korbandy, IGAD’s special envoy to Sudan, confirmed to AFP on Monday that he is scheduled to visit Port Sudan in the coming month. “I’m visiting to discuss issues related to peace in Sudan,” he said from Nairobi, though he declined to specify who he plans to meet. Korbandy added that the visit had been originally planned for December but was postponed to January.

He downplayed the suspension of Sudan’s membership, calling it a “minor problem,” noting that Sudan is a founding member of the regional body. He expressed optimism about the visit, stating it was a positive step toward peace. “I’m seeking constructive dialogue about peace in Sudan, with the ultimate goal of restoring Sudan’s participation in IGAD,” Korbandy said. “My mission is to bring peace to the Sudanese people, and this can only be achieved through dialogue with all parties involved in the conflict.”

Since January, the situation in Sudan has worsened, with tens of thousands killed and over 12 million displaced. Both sides have been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.


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