IGAD Ends Ruto’s Role in Sudan Conflict After Djibouti Meeting

HomeNewsIGAD Ends Ruto's Role in Sudan Conflict After Djibouti Meeting

IGAD Ends Ruto’s Role in Sudan Conflict After Djibouti Meeting

The group headed by President William Ruto aimed at resolving the ongoing Sudan conflict has been disbanded by the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD).

In a statement released on Sunday following a gathering attended by the Head of State in Djibouti, the assembly positively received a thorough report presented by Ruto, acting as the Chairperson of the Quartet Group of Countries.

Ruto was assigned the position in the middle of 2023 to oversee the group of nations consisting of Kenya, South Sudan, Djibouti, and Ethiopia.

The lean team had the responsibility of involving the conflicting factions—the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)—to achieve a ceasefire and encourage peaceful discussions.

“The Assembly welcomed the comprehensive report tabled by the Chairperson of the Quartet Group of Countries, H.E. Dr. William Ruto, and expressed gratitude at the commitment with which he steered the efforts of the quartet; and appreciated the dedication and efforts of the members of the Quartet towards peacefully resolving the ongoing crisis in the Republic of Sudan and noting that the Quartet had ably discharged the task for which it was established,” read the communique in part.

“The IGAD Assembly adopted the report filed, and resolved, in the interest of shared and collective responsibility, to be fully seized of the search for peace in the Sudan.”

Following the gathering, Dr. James Pitia Morgan, South Sudan’s Foreign Minister, informed the press that the report had been presented by Ruto.

Consequently, the assembly disbanded the quartet and delegated the responsibility for peacekeeping efforts once again to IGAD and the African Union.

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“The report submitted by President Ruto of Kenya in his capacity as the chair of IGAD Quartet has outlined the role of the quartet from the time this docket was given to this day, and also that brings to an end the role of the quartet,” Morgan stated as per Eye Radio, a south Sudanese media outlet.

“The responsibility has now been handed over to IGAD and the African Union. Quartet has ended its role so there is no more quartet to this point. So, it is now the responsibility of IGAD and AU to take this process forward.”

The group created in June aimed to convene Sudanese General Ab-del Fattah Al-Burhan and his opponent Mohamed Dagalo for negotiations within a span of 10 days.

However, Al-Burhan declined Ruto’s assignment for the position and urged for the procedure to be overseen by South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir, alleging that Kenya was backing Mohammed Dagalo.

He argued that Kenya was taking sides with the RSF in the ongoing conflict in Sudan and that Ruto had a personal relationship with Dagalo.

Ruto, however, pushed on with the peace efforts.

IGAD Ends Ruto’s Role in Sudan Conflict After Djibouti Meeting

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