Sudan’s army-aligned government, on Tuesday, announced the suspension of its ties with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African regional bloc. This decision comes in the wake of IGAD extending an invitation to Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, a rival paramilitary leader, to attend a summit in Uganda. This move has been perceived by the government as a violation of Sudan’s sovereignty.
The conflict between Sudan’s regular army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, has been raging for nine months. The army, despite its efforts, has been ceding territory, while Daglo, leading the RSF, has been strengthening his diplomatic ties through tours of African capitals.
According to a report by The Guardian, Daglo’s acceptance of the invitation to the IGAD summit, scheduled for Thursday in Uganda, further boosts his diplomatic standing. In a statement issued early Wednesday, he emphasized the need for inclusive negotiations involving various national and civil society institutions.
However, the Sudanese foreign ministry, aligning with army chief and de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, responded by severing its relationship with IGAD. The ministry accused the bloc of undermining Sudan’s sovereignty and setting a dangerous precedent.
Efforts by IGAD, alongside the United States and Saudi Arabia, to mediate between the warring generals have so far been unsuccessful. The ministry’s decision followed accusations made on Saturday against IGAD for legitimizing Daglo’s “militia” by inviting them to a high-level meeting.
Burhan has recently criticized IGAD for its alleged bias and attempted to interfere in what he considers an internal matter. Daglo’s recent diplomatic endeavors, including visits to six African capitals, some of which are IGAD members, contrast sharply with Burhan’s increasingly isolated diplomatic position as his forces lose ground.
Burhan has expressed frustration over Daglo’s rising diplomatic profile, accusing African leaders who have welcomed him of being complicit in atrocities committed against Sudanese civilians. Both the regular army and the RSF have faced allegations of war crimes, including indiscriminate shelling, torture, and the arbitrary detention of civilians. The RSF, in particular, has been accused of ethnically-motivated mass killings, widespread looting, and rapes.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has resulted in over 13,000 deaths, as per the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project’s conservative estimates. According to United Nations figures, approximately 7.5 million civilians have been displaced, either within the country or abroad, due to the fighting.
