Sudan’s anti-war coalition to participate in IGAD Summit

January 17, 2024 (CAIRO) – A prominent leader in the Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Tagadum) has revealed that the coalition will participate in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) summit scheduled on Thursday in Uganda to discuss the ongoing crisis in Sudan.

The IGAD extraordinary summit in Kampala will address the dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia over Somaliland port and the deteriorating situation in Sudan. Invitations were extended to Sudanese rival leaders, Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and Commander of the Rapid Support Forces (SRF) Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

While al-Burhan has decided to boycott it, Daglo confirmed his participation. The Sudanese Foreign Ministry has also suspended dealings with IGAD regarding the current crisis, accusing the organization of disrespecting Sudan’s sovereignty by inviting Dagalo and including Sudan on the summit agenda without prior consultation with Khartoum.

A prominent Tagadum leader informed Sudan Tribune, “Former Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and several members of the coalition’s outreach committee will lead the delegation participating in the IGAD summit.”

The source added that the coalition would present its roadmap for resolving the crisis and the Addis Ababa Declaration signed with the RSF Commander to the East African bloc leaders tasked with resolving the conflict.

He emphasized that the coalition of civilian forces is committed to finding a peaceful solution to the Sudanese crisis and achieving national reconciliation.

The announcement of Tagadum’s participation in the IGAD summit comes two days after al-Burhan agreed to meet with a delegation from the coalition to discuss ways to end the nine-month conflict.

On January 3, former Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok met with the Djibouti President and IGAD Cahir Omer Ismail Guelleh to request their inclusion in the efforts of the regional bloc to resolve the ongoing conflict and restore civilian rule.

(ST)