The ongoing conflict in Sudan has witnessed a shift in the leadership’s stance towards Kenyan President William Ruto, who serves as a mediator between the warring factions.
This development is a boon for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which had designated President Ruto for this role.
Junta leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, engaged in talks with President Ruto in Nairobi, has now endorsed the IGAD-led process to expedite the restoration of normalcy in Khartoum.
During their discussions, the two leaders delved into the recent security situation in Sudan and the broader region.
Additionally, they assessed the progress of ongoing peace initiatives, such as the Jeddah and IGAD peace processes.
According to a statement from the Presidency, the leaders highlighted the urgent necessity of finding a prompt resolution to the conflict in Sudan.
This marks a departure from Sudan’s earlier resistance to Dr. Ruto’s appointment as the head of a a four member-country within the regional bloc to facilitate peace.
Al-Burhan had previously accused Nairobi of harboring sympathies for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), whose leader, Mohammed Hamdan Daglo Hemedti, was once his deputy before their falling out.
In June, IGAD designated Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti as members of a quartet aimed at reconciling Sudanese warring factions.
The recent change in Sudan’s stance is a major endorsement for both IGAD and Dr Ruto, who remains committed to the success of the mediation process.
Acknowledging the slow progress in Jeddah, the leaders stressed the urgency of accelerating efforts towards a cessation of hostilities and the provision of humanitarian assistance.
They have also agreed to collaborate on convening an urgent IGAD Summit to expedite the Jeddah process towards the cessation of hostilities in Sudan.
The Summit aims to establish a framework for an all-inclusive Sudanese dialogue, as stated in the communication from State House.
The conflict in Sudan erupted in April, with various factions vying for control of the country, still grappling with the aftermath of the coup that ousted former leader Omar el-Bashir.
gandae@businessdayfarica.org