Sudan Temporarily Suspends Membership in IGAD
Sudan Suspends IGAD Membership Amid Tensions
The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a statement announcing the suspension of its membership in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in East Africa (IGAD), citing violations of its sovereignty.
According to the statement, the decision to suspend IGAD membership was made following the inclusion of Sudan’s situation in the agenda of the 42nd IGAD Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government without consultation with the Sudanese government. The invitation of the HDK Commander, who is in conflict with the army, to the summit also drew significant criticism from the Sudanese government.
The government accused IGAD of setting a dangerous precedent and violating Sudan’s sovereignty by extending the invitation. It also highlighted that the crisis in Sudan is an internal issue and emphasized that sovereign rights cannot be compromised.
The ongoing civil war in Sudan has escalated tensions between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (HDK) since April 2023. The conflict arose from disagreements over the integration of HDK into the army as part of military and security reform efforts.
The violent clashes have resulted in a significant loss of life, with more than 12 thousand people reported to have lost their lives and 7.7 million people displaced, according to the UN.
IGAD had scheduled an extraordinary meeting on January 18 to discuss the crisis between Ethiopia and Somalia, as well as the civil war in Sudan. However, with Sudan’s decision to suspend its membership, this meeting may be affected.
The developments surrounding Sudan’s suspension of IGAD membership reflect the deep-seated tensions within the East African bloc and raise concerns about the region’s stability in the face of ongoing conflicts.
