Sudan Cut Ties With Kenya and IGAD Countries Over Ruto’s Meeting With General Dagalo
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is currently facing uncertainty in its attempts to resolve the dispute between Sudanese military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his paramilitary counterpart General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
IGAD was taken by surprise when Sudan opted to sever its connections with the regional organization, alleging that the group had shown bias towards the paramilitary faction.
As per information from global news sources, General al-Burhan of Sudan alleged on Tuesday that IGAD had extended an invitation to General Dagalo for the upcoming Non-Aligned Movement Summit organized by its member countries, including Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Sudan
The administration led by al-Burhan asserted that his rival was invited without their awareness, a situation they contended jeopardized the peace and prosperity of the conflict-ridden nation.
The Foreign Ministry of Sudan, expressing its concern, did not specify its willingness to engage in discussions with IGAD, which has been accused of displaying bias.
“The invitation of the Igad Secretariat to the leader of the militia to attend the emergency summit of Igad No 42 is a flagrant violation of the agreement establishing Igad and all the rules and traditions of the work of international organizations and a gross disregard for the victims of genocide in different parts of the country,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs complained in a statement.
“The ministry does not need to remind that the establishment of an organization of sovereign governments aims to promote regional peace and security and achieve integration among member states, and there is no place in it for criminal groups,” the statement added.
The IGAD summit is scheduled to take place in Entebbe, Uganda on January 18. Despite being invited, reports are suggesting that the military faction (junta) has rejected the invitation, in contrast to the paramilitary group that accepted it.
One of the main topics addressed during the summit included discussions on strategies to establish peace in Sudan and the impact of the conflict on the nations within the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
IGAD has not provided clarity on its intention to convene the extraordinary summit, which was scheduled to address the conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia, as well as the broader humanitarian crisis in the area.
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The declaration made by al-Burhan’s government on Tuesday occurred merely a week following the completion of General Dagalo’s official tour across Africa, during which he visited Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, South Africa, and Rwanda.
In Kenya, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, accompanied by other government officials, welcomed him at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on January 3rd.
Afterward, Ruto assumed the role of host at the State House, expressing gratitude for the dedication shown by the President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of Sudan, General Abdel-Fattah Al Burhan, in seeking reconciliation with his adversary and working towards peace.
Soon after this visit, Sudan withdrew its representative from Nairobi as a gesture of protest against the formal welcome extended to Dagalo.
“Nairobi has forgotten the terrible violations committed by the rebel forces and the destruction they caused to the country’s infrastructure, capabilities, and citizens’ property,” its Foreign Affairs Ministry condemned Kenya.
In November 2023, Ruto notably welcomed General al-Burhan for discussions on peace initiatives in Sudan. This meeting occurred after IGAD terminated Ruto’s mediation role in Sudan due to protests from al-Burhan.
al-Burhan had additionally alleged that Ruto was aligning himself with General Dagalo, who serves as his paramilitary counterpart.
Sudan Cut Ties With Kenya and IGAD Countries Over Ruto’s Meeting With General Dagalo
