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Sudan Suspends Relations with IGAD Ahead of Kampala Summit  

Sudanese Sovereignty Council President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan meets with IGAD officials in Djibouti in November. (Sovereignty Council)
Sudanese Sovereignty Council President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan meets with IGAD officials in Djibouti in November. (Sovereignty Council)
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Sudan Suspends Relations with IGAD Ahead of Kampala Summit  

Sudanese Sovereignty Council President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan meets with IGAD officials in Djibouti in November. (Sovereignty Council)
Sudanese Sovereignty Council President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan meets with IGAD officials in Djibouti in November. (Sovereignty Council)

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that it is suspending its involvement with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) regarding the ongoing crisis in Sudan.

The move comes two days before a scheduled summit in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. IGAD had called for the summit to discuss developments in Sudan and Somalia.

The decision to freeze ties with the east African regional bloc is expected to deepen Sudan’s isolation in the region and increase tensions with regional and international institutions.

The Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group have been fighting for nine months in a brutal war that has displaced millions.

On Tuesday, Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the decision came after IGAD added Sudan to the agenda of a meeting scheduled for Kampala on January 18 and invited the RSF’s leader, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo – known as Hemedti – to attend.

The ministry criticized the invitation extended to Hemedti as a “dangerous precedent” in IGAD’s history and a violation of Sudan’s sovereignty, viewing it as a significant breach of the bloc’s charters and the rules governing international and regional organizations.

The Sudanese Sovereignty Council stressed the importance of implementing decisions from the previous IGAD summit held in Djibouti in December.

Two days ago, there was an attempt to arrange a meeting between Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Hemedti.

However, Hemedti couldn't attend, citing “technical reasons,” and instead conducted a diplomatic tour in various African countries.

In other news, Rasha Awad, a spokesperson for the Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), announced on Tuesday that al-Burhan has agreed to meet with Taqaddum, led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, without specifying when or where the meeting will take place.

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US Houthi Terror Designation Takes Effect, Welcomed by Yemen Govt, Raises UN Concern

The government has fully endorsed the US designation, describing it as an “effective tool to curb material and financial support” for the Houthis. (AP)
The government has fully endorsed the US designation, describing it as an “effective tool to curb material and financial support” for the Houthis. (AP)
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US Houthi Terror Designation Takes Effect, Welcomed by Yemen Govt, Raises UN Concern

The government has fully endorsed the US designation, describing it as an “effective tool to curb material and financial support” for the Houthis. (AP)
The government has fully endorsed the US designation, describing it as an “effective tool to curb material and financial support” for the Houthis. (AP)

The US State Department’s designation of Yemen’s Houthi militias as a “foreign terrorist organization” has been welcomed by the legitimate Yemeni government, but has triggered UN concerns over its impact on humanitarian access, with the international body calling for “guarantees.”

While Yemeni reports suggest the designation could economically strangle the Iran-backed Houthis, fears are mounting that the move may push them to derail the fragile truce, resume the war against the government, and escalate attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The government has fully endorsed the US designation, describing it as an “effective tool to curb material and financial support” for the Houthis.

It renewed its call for the international community to take similar steps to dry up the militias' funding, arms supplies, and to strengthen efforts aimed at restoring stability and peace in Yemen.

In a statement, Yemen’s Foreign Ministry stressed that the country has long suffered from the ravages of war and Iranian interference.

It called the US designation a reinforcement of its partnership with the United States and its allies in the fight against terrorism, hoping it will help curb activities that threaten the security of its citizens, the region, and global maritime trade.

The statement also affirmed Yemen's readiness to cooperate fully with international partners to ensure the effective implementation of the designation, aiming to serve the interests of the Yemeni people and promote peace and security in the region.

Amid concerns over the impact of the US designation on humanitarian efforts in Houthi-controlled areas, UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called for US guarantees.

During a press briefing, he emphasized that the designation should be accompanied by “appropriate assurances” to ensure effective humanitarian aid delivery and to allow civilians access to essential goods and services.

Dujarric also highlighted the UN’s focus on humanitarian response in Yemen, where nearly 19 million people require life-saving assistance, and 17 million are at risk of famine.

He stressed the importance of maintaining the role of the private sector in securing basic needs.

Dujarric cautioned that any disruption in the flow of commercial goods and humanitarian aid could have catastrophic consequences, particularly in a country that relies on imports for around 90% of its food supply.