RSF leader’s invitation to IGAD meeting draws criticism from Sudan

January 12, 2014 (PORT SUDAN) – The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the IGAD  invitation to the Commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to attend the upcoming IGAD Emergency Summit in Uganda next week.

The Ministry asserts that this decision violates international law and disregards the appalling human rights abuses committed by the RSF in various parts of Sudan.

“The Ministry finds no need to remind that IGAD is an organization of sovereign governments, dedicated to fostering regional peace and security and promoting integration among member states. There is no place for terrorist and criminal groups within this organization,” said the Sudanese foreign ministry.

The statement further condemned the invitation as a “disgraceful precedent” that undermines the sovereignty of member states and condones terrorism, genocide, and ethnic cleansing. It added that this decision encourages the very groups responsible for the atrocities plaguing the region.

The RSF Commander’s invitation is part of IGAD’s efforts to arrange a direct meeting between him and the Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Army on January 18.

According to the Sudanese News Agency, As per the Sudanese News Agency, Malik Agar, the Deputy Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, told the UN Secretary-General’s envoy, Ramadan Lamamra, on Saturday that “Transferring the Sudan issue to IGAD serves no purpose.”

Lamamra arrived in Port Sudan on Friday, marking his first visit to Sudan since his appointment as a UN envoy for Sudan.

Some pro-army commentators have criticized President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s decision to hand over the negotiations to IGAD, citing Hemetti’s economic investments in several IGAD member states and his political influence. They believe that this could give RSF leader the needed legitimacy to communicate with the region’s leaders officially. Additionally, they point out that relocating the talks from Jeddah to the IGAD could signal a willingness to merge the military and political negotiations, potentially opening the door for civilian participation in the military talks.

The head of the civil forces coalition Tagadum, Abdallah Hamdok, recently travelled to Djibouti to demand the inclusion of civilian forces in the direct meeting between Burhan and Hemetti and the resulting agreement.

(ST)