The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said it is ready to support a Sudanese-owned process to end the political crisis that sparked in the country three months after a military coup.
IGAD’s Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu arrived on Sunday in Khartoum for a three-day visit to hold talks with the military and political leaders in this regard.
According to a Foreign Ministry statement, Gebeyehu said the regional body intends to play a role together with the African Union in the Sudanese settlement process.
His visit is the first direct official action by the African body since the Oct. 25 coup, which has paralyzed the country politically.
The military 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.
Gebeyehu underscored IGAD’s keenness to consult with all Sudanese parties.
He said IGAD will support efforts to resolve the current crisis after holding talks with all relevant parties.
The Sudanese government welcomed IGAD’s efforts to bridge the rifts among Sudanese parties, adding that it is ready to provide all the possible support for the success of these efforts.
Acting Undersecretary of Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Omar Bashir said his country looks forward to boosting cooperation with IGAD’s secretariat and member states to address regional challenges.
His press statements were made during his meeting on Sunday with Gebeyehu at the Ministry’s headquarters in Khartoum.
Gebeyehu urged the Sudanese conflicting parties to halt escalation and prepare for serious dialogue and negotiations to find a solution to the ongoing political crisis.
He met on Monday 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, Norway) countries in Khartoum to consult on the Sudan 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.
IGAD brings together Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda and Eritrea.
