KHARTOUM, Aug. 1 – The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Workneh Gebeyehu, visited Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, on an official trip, where he met with Sudan’s Sovereign Council chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to discuss the country’s crisis and efforts to restore peace.
Gebeyehu said the visit reflected IGAD’s support for peace initiatives led by the Sudanese government and people, stressing that lasting stability could only be achieved through a Sudanese-led process rather than solutions imposed from abroad.
He described Sudan as a founding member of IGAD and highlighted its important role in strengthening ties between the Horn of Africa and the Arab world.
The IGAD chief said the delegation witnessed firsthand the extensive destruction caused by the conflict in Khartoum and again condemned reported human rights violations in areas including El Fasher and other regions affected by fighting.
Gebeyehu announced that IGAD would reopen its office in Khartoum, saying the move would strengthen the regional bloc’s support for rebuilding state institutions, peacebuilding efforts and Sudan’s recovery process.
He added that IGAD was ready to facilitate peace talks and support initiatives led by President al-Burhan, while emphasizing that the organization did not seek to impose an externally driven political solution on Sudan.
The visit comes after Sudan suspended its participation in IGAD activities in January 2024 following disputes over the bloc’s role in mediating the conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The reopening of the IGAD office in Khartoum is seen as a sign of improving relations between Sudan and the regional organization, as efforts continue to support a Sudan-led path toward peace and stability.
