IGAD Renews Call for Direct Meeting Between Sudan’s Burhan, Hemedti

Leader of the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo shakes hands with IGAD leaders in Uganda on Thursday (X)
Leader of the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo shakes hands with IGAD leaders in Uganda on Thursday (X)
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IGAD Renews Call for Direct Meeting Between Sudan’s Burhan, Hemedti

Leader of the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo shakes hands with IGAD leaders in Uganda on Thursday (X)
Leader of the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo shakes hands with IGAD leaders in Uganda on Thursday (X)

In an extraordinary meeting held in Kampala, Uganda, the leaders of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) urged Sudan’s military leaders to meet within two weeks to find ways to end the nine-month conflict.

The East African bloc’s call for an immediate ceasefire and initiation of political dialogue was emphasized, with IGAD member states pledging to use all available means for a peaceful resolution.

IGAD leaders instructed the Secretariat, in collaboration with the African Union, to review the roadmap for resolving the conflict that began on April 15, 2023.

The roadmap outlines a clear timeline for a comprehensive political process leading to the formation of a democratic government within a month.

A delegation from the Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqaddum) led by former Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok, participated in the summit.

RSF leader Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), also attended, presenting perspectives on ending the war.

Hamdok reported consultative meetings with IGAD leaders during the summit in Kampala, addressing the Sudanese crisis and regional issues.

In addition, the summit’s final statement praised the appointment of Moussa Faki, the head of the African Union Commission, to lead a high-level team.

Faki will work closely with IGAD and other stakeholders to manage the peace process in Sudan.

The committee, announced by Faki, includes three African figures who will engage with all involved parties, including civil and armed groups, as well as regional and global actors like IGAD, the United Nations, and the Arab League.

The goal is to ensure a comprehensive process for a secure and stable return to peace in the country.

According to the summit’s final communique, the conflict in Sudan must be resolved without any external interference.

The conflict in Sudan broke out in April, 2023, between the national army, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and Dagalo. Since then, 7 million people have been displaced and 12,000 have been killed.



Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Thursday called on major powers to “exert greater efforts to end the war in Palestine and Lebanon.” Meanwhile, an Iraqi government official urged the United States to “prevent any attacks on the country,” referring to potential Israeli strikes.
During a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al-Sudani stressed the importance of ensuring the conflict does not escalate “to a level that threatens regional and global stability.”
The Iraqi prime minister’s appeal comes amid reports suggesting that Israel may launch strikes on Iraq in retaliation for attacks by Iraqi armed factions targeting Israeli positions.
The Iraqi government is striving to assert its exclusive authority over weapons and war-related decisions. However, armed factions affiliated with the Axis of Resistance openly claim responsibility for near-daily rocket attacks on Israel. This has provided Israel with a justification for potentially targeting Iraqi territory, especially after it filed a complaint with the UN Security Council against six Iraqi factions and held Baghdad responsible for the attacks.
These factions have also openly declared their involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel in Lebanon and Gaza. The Iraqi government has been unable to take decisive action to halt the activities of these factions, which many believe could soon expose Iraq to an Israeli strike.
According to media reports, Washington has warned Baghdad that Israeli airstrikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless the Iraqi government curtails attacks by Iranian-backed factions on Israel. The Times of Israel cited sources indicating that the United States has “exhausted all means of pressure on Israel” and urged Iraq to act swiftly to prevent such attacks.
Despite repeated assurances from the Iraqi government—including its recent adoption of 12 measures by the National Security Council to counter Israeli threats and complaints—the situation remains tense. These measures include monitoring Iraq’s western borders, preventing factions from launching attacks, and maintaining Iraq’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict.
On Wednesday, Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi, Secretary-General of Kata’ib Hezbollah, made a striking statement on the role of resistance factions in the war and their commitment to the Unity of Fronts doctrine frequently mentioned by Axis of Resistance groups.
In an interview published by the faction’s media arm, Al-Hamidawi said: “The continuity of the Unity of Fronts concept depends on what the Lebanese Hezbollah decides.”
Al-Hamidawi also emphasized that resistance factions are constantly coordinating internally and with external partners such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian resistance leaders.
“We aim to ensure that the Palestinian people are not left alone and that the Unity of Fronts remains intact,” he stated.
Fadi Al-Shammari, a political advisor to Sudani, reiterated that Israel’s threats “are not new,” citing the recent complaint filed by Israel with the UN Security Council as part of its pattern of issuing threats.
In media statements, Al-Shammari reaffirmed the Iraqi government’s long-standing position: “The decision of war and peace lies solely with the Iraqi government.”
He noted that the factions’ attacks are being launched from areas outside Iraq’s borders, specifically from Syria. However, he stressed that the Iraqi government is working through its security and military agencies to prevent Iraq from becoming a battlefield for external or internal parties.
Al-Shammari also called on the United States to fulfill its responsibilities under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with Iraq, emphasizing the need to deter and respond to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.