IGAD members describe Sudan war as unjust, call for constructive dialogue between Ethiopia and Somalia
The 42nd Extraordinary Assembly of the IGAD Heads of State and Government was held on Thursday, 18th January 2024, in Entebbe, Republic of Uganda, on the situation in the in the Republic of the Sudan and recent developments regarding the relation between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Federal Republic of Somalia;
The meeting was chaired by H.E. Ismail Omar Guelleh, the President of the Republic of Djibouti and the Chairperson of the IGAD Heads of State and Government. Other heads of state in attendance were H.E. Dr. William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya; H.E. Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia and H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan.
In a joint communique issued on January 18, 2024, the leaders decried the Sudan war as unjust and underscored that the Republic of Sudan belongs to its people, urging an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to end the war.
The members also reiterated their call for dialogue and negotiation, extending IGAD’s readiness to facilitate an inclusive peace process, collaborating closely with all Sudanese stakeholders, the African Union (AU) and international actors.
Looking ahead, the heads of state proposed a face-to-face meeting between Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, the head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) within 14 days to initiate reconciliation.
In a move towards concrete action, the leaders further directed the IGAD Secretariat, in coordination with the AU, to revise the roadmap for the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of Sudan, ensuring a clear timeline.
The collective call resonated beyond IGAD, as the leaders urged the African Union and the international community to mobilise support for the peace process in the Republic of Sudan.
Addressing the media, President Museveni noted that the leaders throughout their discussions resolved that the conflicting parties must stop what he called the unprincipled war.
“We described the Sudan war as unjust. We freedom fighters pay attention to these wars. When we were fighting for freedom, we were fighting for justice and we could not get it by any other means,” the President said.
“I was sharing with Your Excellencies, if you take for instance the history of African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa, it was founded in 1912 but I don’t think they adopted the armed struggle strategy until 1961; so, for 50 years they were using peaceful methods including petitions and demonstrations. It was only when the oppressor completely closed the possibilities of peaceful ways of doing things that the ANC declared war, but you have got wars, every small thing is war. This is ideological shallowness in our view,” he added.
On the other hand, the leaders issued a resounding call for peace and dialogue, urging the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Federal Republic of Somalia to de-escalate tensions and embrace constructive dialogue.
Furthermore, the Heads of State reaffirmed their commitment to the cardinal principles of respecting the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
IGAD, which is headquartered in Djibouti city, Djibouti, is an eight-country trade bloc in Africa that includes governments from the Horn of Africa, the Nile Valley and the African Great Lakes.
Bellow is the full press release says that.” The Assembly was chaired by H.E. Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djiboutiand the Chairperson of the IGAD Heads of State and Government and was attended by: H.E. Dr. William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya; H.E. Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia; H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan; H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda;
Also in attendance were: H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, the Executive Secretary of IGAD; H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; H.E. Ramtane Lamamra, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Sudan; H.E. Eng. Waleed M. Alkhuraji, Deputy Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; H.E. Annette Weber, European Union Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa; H.E. Ambassador Michael Hammer, US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa; H.E. Hossam Eldin Mohamed, Assistant Secretary General of the League of Arab States; H.E. Mohamed Abdi Ware, IGAD Deputy Executive Secretary; Ambassador Ismail Wais (PhD), IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan and IGAD representative for the Sudan Peace Process; Ambassador Mohamed Ali Guyo (PhD), IGAD Special Envoy for the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Somalia; and, Chief-of-Staff of the Office of the UN Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa.
Arising from statements and subsequent deliberations on the situation in the Republic of the Sudan and recent developments in the relation between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Federal Republic of Somalia;
The Assembly,
Congratulated the people and President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for hosting and successfully organizing the 42nd Extraordinary IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government and also the Non-Aligned Movement and the G77 + China Summits as well as the courtesies and warm welcome extended to delegates;
Deeply concerned by the recent developments regarding the relation between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Federal Republic of Somalia;
Reaffirmed the cardinal principles of respect for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia; and any engagement should uphold the above cardinal principles, and any agreement or arrangement should be with the consent of the Federal Government of Somalia;
Called upon the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Federal Republic of Somalia to de-escalate tensions and instead engage in constructive dialogue;
Concerned by the continued fighting in the Republic of the Sudan and the dire security and humanitarian situation occasioned by the war, reiterated its call for the parties to the conflict to commit to dialogue and negotiation; and in this regard, expressed IGAD’s continued readiness to offer its good offices to facilitate an all-inclusive peace process to end the conflict in close collaboration with all Sudanese stakeholders, AU, and regional and international actors;
Emphasized that the Republic of the Sudan does not belong to the parties to the conflict only but the Sudanese people and reiterated their call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire as well as cessation of hostilities to end this unjust war affecting the people of the Sudan to pave way for a political dialogue;
Underscored the primary responsibility of IGAD Member States to ensure the will of the people of the Sudan prevails;
Recalled the commitment of the parties to the conflict for a face-to-face meeting within 14 days and called upon the parties to meet within two weeks;
Stressed that IGAD Member States will utilize all means and capabilities to ensure the conflict in the Sudan is resolved peacefully and directed the IGAD Secretariat to provide an update to the Assembly;
Directed the IGAD Secretariat in coordination with the AUC to revise the Roadmap for the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of the Sudan that was adopted at the 14th Ordinary Session of the IGAD Heads of State and Government with clear timelines; andwithin one month to convene a Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led process towards a democratic Government in the Sudan;
Called upon IGAD in coordination with AU and international community to mobilize support for the peace process with the aim to resolve the conflict in the Republic of the Sudan;
Welcomed the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for appointing members of a High-Level Panel for Sudan and called on the Panel to work closely and collaboratively with IGAD and other stakeholders in facilitating the peace process in the Sudan; and
Decided to remain actively seized of these matters.
