The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) condemned the escalation of violence in Sudan and called on the leaders of the warring sides to immediately cease hostilities and engage in dialogue.

During the opening session of the 14th Ordinary Assembly of the IGAD Heads of State and Government held in Djibouti today, the Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu highlighted, “It is an opportunity to prevent further loss of life and allow the safe evacuation of civilians who wish to escape the fighting."

Elsewhere in his remarks, he urged the rival generals in Sudan "not to allow war to bring out the worst versions of the best of us."

The Secretary stressed that the significant and excellent accomplishments in peace and security for the area must be acknowledged, noting that the summit takes place at a time of great potential and positive developments in the IGAD region.

Fighting between Sudan's rival generals, commander of the Sudanese Army Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and head of the Rapid Support Forces RSF Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), displaced over one million people within the country and left thousands of injuries since it began on April 15, he highlighted.

He noted that on April 16, 2023, less than 24 hours after hostilities began, the chiefs of state and government of the IGAD met in an emergency summit to address the situation and try to control it. 

After the summit, the presidents of the IGAD member states bravely decided to form the High-Level Delegation, which was headed by Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan, Ismael Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, and William Ruto of Kenya.

“This demonstrates our collective determination to bring about a peaceful resolution. We are looking forward to the report of the High-Level Delegation and the draft roadmap on peace in Sudan,” he said.

"IGAD welcomed the efforts to suspend hostilities through the temporary ceasefire reached on 20th May and the 24-hour truce that came into effect from 06:00 am on Saturday 10th June 2023," he added.

But he went on to say that it is extremely frustrating to see clashes resume in Khartoum, El-Geneina in northern Darfur, and parts of western Darfur.

He acknowledged that there are no true winners in conflict and that IGAD is very troubled by the ongoing fighting in Sudan.

The Executive Secretary continued, highlighting the severity of the situation in Sudan, “Before this conflict broke out, the Republic of Sudan was already one of the biggest refugee-hosting countries in Africa and the world. As a result of the ongoing conflict, we are now facing twin prospects of ‘double-displacement’ of refugees and asylum seekers as well as the increased challenge of food insecurity in Sudan and our region which has barely recovered from the devastating drought.”

And he highlighted that it is the moral and historical duty of IGAD, Sudan's allies, and neighbors to put a stop to and reverse the course of the fighting.

The revival of Al-Shabaab, food insecurity, humanitarian concerns, and other challenges in the IGAD area, on the other hand, were all addressed by Workneh.

Commenting on Ethiopian matters, the Executive Secretary hailed Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for taking the initiative to secure the cease-fire agreement and put an end to the use of weapons in northern Ethiopia.

“This historic milestone marks a significant step towards peace, stability, and reconciliation in the region. The prime minister’s dedication to dialogue and peaceful resolution has proven instrumental in bringing an end to the bloody conflict, fostering an environment of trust and understanding among the parties involved,” the Executive Secretary concluded.

Read more: Sudan: A borderless conflict