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IGAD leaders unite for urgent action to halt deadly Sudan war

IGAD heads of state during the 41st Extraordinary Assembly in Djibouti on December 9, 2023.(Photo:IGAD)

By Gelle Dheere | Sunday, December 10, 2023

According to UN OCHA, the toll of this conflict is staggering, with over 12,190 lives lost and 6.6 million people displaced, half of whom are children, since April.

The most recent IGAD Assembly, convened in Djibouti last Saturday and presided over by President Ismael Omar Guelleh, concluded with a resounding endorsement to urgently tackle the escalating crisis in Sudan.

IGAD Executive Secretary, Workneh Gebeyehu, stated that the assembly successfully “secured a commitment from the Sudanese belligerents to promptly convene and agree upon a cessation of hostilities—a crucial step in addressing the aspirations of the Sudanese people”.

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An Aide to Workneh, Nuur Mohamed Sheekh said that leaders at the Djibouti meeting “unanimously endorsed measures to address the Sudan crisis, giving the highest priority to an immediate cessation of hostilities, civilian protection, and ensuring humanitarian access”.

He emphasized that IGAD once again has shown its crucial role as a unified and purpose-driven multilateral organization, taking coordinated action on regional issues.

The 41st Extraordinary Assembly of the IGAD Heads of State and Government on December 9, 2023. (Photo: IGAD)

Power struggle

The Sudan war which erupted on 15 April 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), rival factions of Sudan's military government, mirrors a power struggle between former allies: SAF's commander-in-chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and RSF's commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti.

This conflict has thrown Sudan into a catastrophic crisis, resulting in extensive casualties, significant displacement, widespread destruction, economic collapse, and mayhem.

According to UN OCHA, the toll of this conflict is staggering, with over 12,190 lives lost and 6.6 million people displaced, half of whom are children, since April.

Sudan now has the world's largest number of displaced people and the most extensive child displacement crisis. Over 5.3 million people have been internally displaced, with 47 per cent seeking refuge in the Darfur and Kordofan regions, according to the UN.

Humanitarian agencies grapple with formidable challenges, including insecurity, widespread looting, limited staff, and critical shortages of essential supplies.

The decisions made at the IGAD Assembly signify a collective commitment to urgently address the Sudan crisis, offering hope for a resolution to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people and restore stability to the region.