The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) continued on Monday its efforts to end the political crisis in Sudan.
IGAD’s Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu held talks with head of Sudan’s Sovereign Transitional Council General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, as well as foreign diplomats and Sudanese political forces, during which he was briefed on the development of the situation and efforts to address the crisis.
Asharq Al-Awsat learned that Gebeyehu and Burhan reviewed developments in Sudan and IGAD’s role towards negotiated solutions to the crisis through constructive engagement.
Gebeyehu underlined IGAD’s full support for the country to achieve a peaceful resolution.
Burhan briefed Gebeyehu and his accompanying delegation on the political developments and the ongoing efforts to resolve the crisis, the Sovereign Council said in a press statement.
“Burhan underscored his keenness to hold talks with all relevant parties to achieve the political transition in Sudan.”
This visit aims at tackling the political challenges facing Sudan, the statement quoted Gebeyehu as saying, adding that he is not in Khartoum as head of IGAD but as an active member of the organization.
He held consultations with all the political actors to inform the IGAD member states of the outcomes of his visit, which will be presented at the next African Union summit, it added.
He is expected to meet with political parties and civil society organizations, topped by the National Umma Party, the Sudanese Communist Party, and Forces of Freedom and Change alliance (FFC) before concluding his visit.
He also met with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Sudan and head of UNITAMS Volker Perthes, as well as representatives from the EU and the Troika (US, UK and Norway) countries in Khartoum to consult on the situation.
“We agreed to support the efforts of the Sudanese people to find a comprehensive and lasting solution to the current prevailing political situation,” he tweeted.
Gebeyehu had arrived in Khartoum on Sunday for a three-day visit.
His visit is the first direct official action by the African body since the Oct. 25 military coup, which has plunged the country in its political crisis.
The army takeover halted a power sharing arrangement between the military and civilians negotiated in 2019 after a popular uprising that forced the removal of longtime president Omar al-Bashir and his government.
