The Sudanese government, led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has announced the suspension of its membership in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional bloc in East Africa. This decision comes after accusations of violating Sudan’s sovereignty by inviting the head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, to a summit. The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF has been ongoing for nine months, resulting in a devastating war that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced over seven million people.
Earlier this week, Sudan had already declared the freezing of its relations with IGAD, ahead of a meeting in Uganda, due to the controversial invitation extended to Hemedti. The government deemed this act as a violation and a dangerous precedent. Despite the efforts of IGAD, the United States, and Saudi Arabia to mediate between the warring parties, a resolution has not been achieved. The conflict initially erupted in mid-April over a plan to merge the RSF into the army and transition towards elections, supported by the international community. However, the situation escalated when the army and RSF jointly staged a coup in 2021, derailing Sudan’s path towards democracy.
Both sides involved in the conflict have been accused of war crimes, including the indiscriminate shelling of residential areas, torture, arbitrary detention of civilians, and ethnically-motivated mass killings, particularly in Darfur. The RSF has also been implicated in rampant looting and the use of rape as a weapon of war. The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project estimates that the conflict has claimed the lives of over 13,000 people, while United Nations figures indicate that around 7.5 million civilians have been displaced within Sudan or sought refuge abroad.
The decision to suspend membership in IGAD reflects the growing tensions and deep-rooted issues within Sudan’s political landscape. It is a significant development in a conflict that has garnered international attention and highlights the challenges faced by the country in achieving stability and peace. The impact of this decision on regional dynamics and Sudan’s relations with other countries remains to be seen.
As the Sudanese people continue to endure the devastating consequences of this protracted conflict, there is an urgent need for concerted efforts from the international community to address the humanitarian crisis and facilitate a peaceful resolution.
