Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ Sudan’s foreign ministry has rejected the Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s (IGAD) call to deploy peacekeeping forces in the country as it enters its fourth month of armed conflict. The ministry, associated with Sudan’s army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, declined IGAD’s request for a peacekeeping mission, dealing a blow to efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). IGAD, an East African regional body, had urged all Sudanese parties to engage in new peace negotiations and proposed deploying the East Africa Standby Force (EASF) to protect civilians and provide humanitarian aid.
The Sudanese army boycotted the IGAD mediation efforts and rejected the call for peacekeepers. The situation is dire, with the United Nations reporting the death of nearly 1,000 civilians, although the actual number could be even higher. Previous attempts at mediation have failed, leaving the Sudanese army and the RSF in a stalemate as they continue to fight for dominance.
The foreign ministry criticized comments made by the presidents of Ethiopia and Kenya during the summit, labeling them a violation of Sudan’s sovereignty. Furthermore, a recent attack in West Darfur resulted in the killing of at least 40 civilians. Human Rights Watch has stated that the attack targeted the Masalit community and was ethnically motivated. The city of el-Geneina in West Darfur has become a focal point for clashes between the RSF, allied Arab militias, and the Masalit people.
Amidst the ongoing conflict, thousands of people have been displaced, seeking refuge at the border with Chad. Egypt has put forth a proposal to hold a summit aimed at resolving the power conflict in Sudan, a move that has been welcomed by the Sudanese army due to its close ties with Cairo. However, the situation remains tense and the prospects for a peaceful resolution appear challenging.
