Djibouti hosts consultative meeting on Sudan crisis

As the chair of IGAD, Djibouti convened a crucial meeting on Wednesday with multilateral institutions, neighbouring countries, and international partners to discuss strategies for halting the conflict in Sudan and bolstering humanitarian assistance.

The second consultative meeting aimed at enhancing the coordination of peace initiatives for Sudan and saw the attendance of high-level representatives, including the IGAD team led by Workneh Gebeyehu, UN Secretary General's envoy for Sudan Ramtane Lamamra, the EU Commission Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa, the US envoy for Sudan, and other diplomatic officials.

IGAD boss Workneh Gebeyehu noted that while humanitarian support has been crucial in alleviating the suffering of our brothers and sisters, peace in Sudan remains the sustainable solution.

"We urge all partners to unite their efforts, as a coordinated front will amplify our collective voice and actions to end this conflict. IGAD remains committed to collaborating with all like-minded partners and stakeholders dedicated to restoring peace in Sudan," the IGAD chief posted on his X account.

However, the regional bloc has previously been accused of bias by the Al-Burhan faction.

Whether this meeting will yield any substantial progress towards a ceasefire in Sudan remains to be seen, as multiple processes have emerged and remain uncoordinated.

A UN report issued on Tuesday found that nearly 26 million people in Sudan are not getting enough food due to the war.

Recently, the U.S. invited the warring sides to Switzerland as efforts mount again to end the brutal conflict. The United States declared that Saudi Arabia will co-host the negotiations, with the African Union, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Nations as observers.

The brutal war between the Rapid Support Forces and the military government has raged in Sudan since April 2023. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, and almost 10 million displaced, according to the United Nations, amid reports of numerous war crimes by both sides and a severe humanitarian crisis.