Burhan Suspends Sudan's Membership in IGAD

Chairman of the Sovereignty Council and commander of the Sudanese Army Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (File photo: Reuters)
Chairman of the Sovereignty Council and commander of the Sudanese Army Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (File photo: Reuters)
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Burhan Suspends Sudan's Membership in IGAD

Chairman of the Sovereignty Council and commander of the Sudanese Army Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (File photo: Reuters)
Chairman of the Sovereignty Council and commander of the Sudanese Army Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (File photo: Reuters)

Head of Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council and Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan officially suspended the country's membership in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

He made the announcement following an emergency IGAD summit that renewed the call for a direct meeting between Burhan and head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti.

According to a statement by the Foreign Ministry, Burhan sent a letter to Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleho, the current chair of the bloc, to inform him of the "Sudanese government's decision to suspend its membership in this organization."

The ministry added that the final communique of the 42nd summit included language that Sudan deemed "disrespectful to its sovereignty and offensive to the families of victims of atrocities committed by rebel militias."

The letter made it clear that the government is not obligated and is not concerned with what is issued by IGAD regarding Sudanese affairs.

On Thursday, the IGAD summit in Uganda said the leaders of Sudan's army and RSF must have a face-to-face meeting within two weeks. It reiterated its call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire" in the conflict between the military and RSF.

It stressed that the member states will use all means and capabilities to ensure a peaceful resolution of the conflict, which erupted in mid-April 2023.

The heads of state and governments directed the IGAD General Secretariat and the African Union (AU) to begin joint consultations with the warring parties and stakeholders to launch a political process within a month that will end with the formation of a democratic government.

The Sovereignty Council believed there was no need for the summit before the implementation of the outcomes of the previous summit in Djibouti on December 28.

Last Tuesday, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry announced the cessation of engagement and freezing of dealings with IGAD regarding the current crisis in Sudan.

On Saturday, the Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, said it regretted the statements of the Foreign Ministry, considering that it had taken a "hostile turn towards the regional and international environment."

Taqaddum asserted the regional and international consensus to stop the war, stressing that the Sudanese must unite and work to stop the war.

Meanwhile, the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) welcomed the decisions of the Uganda summit and efforts to end the war by facilitating a Sudanese political process that ends with the formation of transitional democratic civil governance institutions.

The FFC regretted the army commander's boycott of the summit, hoping he would respond to the voices calling for a ceasefire.

The coalition reiterated its adherence to its principled position, calling for ending the war, achieving peace, and establishing a sustainable democratic civil transition.

It reaffirmed its position on launching a political process that only excludes the dissolved National Congress Party, its affiliated Islamic Movement, and all its affiliates under various names.

Furthermore, President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit appealed for an immediate opening of humanitarian corridors for essential services to reach the Sudanese people.

In Kampala, Kiir discussed with Hemedti recent developments in Sudan.

According to a post on his X account, Hemedti presented his vision for halting the conflict as soon as possible, establishing a reborn Sudan founded on the principles of justice and equality, and forming a unified professional national army led by a civilian democratic government, which will propel the country forward and end the longstanding cycle of wars.

IGAD had invited Hemedti to the emergency summit in Kampala, where he hoped efforts would achieve peace and stability in Sudan.



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.