Uncertainty Lingers Over Planned IGAD Meeting With Sudanese Military and RSF Leaders

Conflicting reports continue to emerge regarding the anticipated meeting between the leaders of Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), scheduled to take place this week upon the invitation of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The primary agenda for the meeting is to address a ceasefire and facilitate the resumption of humanitarian aid in the war-torn nation.

This is as a senior official from Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduced an element of doubt regarding the immediate feasibility of the meeting.

According to him, final arrangements for a direct encounter between Army Commander in Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo Hemetti are yet to be concluded.

This assertion contradicts earlier reports that both al-Burhan and Hemetti received an invitation letter from the IGAD Chairman, calling for a meeting in Djibouti on December 28th.

Amidst these conflicting statements, regional and international stakeholders, including the United States, have increased pressure on the conflicting parties to convene the meeting and kickstart a political process aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis in Sudan.

The Djibouti meeting is still slated to hold on December 28th, while the contradictory reports have been attributed to a breakdown in communication between the IGAD Chairman and the Sudanese Foreign Ministry.

In response to the invitation extended by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, RSF Commander Hemetti expressed readiness on Tuesday to participate in the proposed meeting. He conveyed his commitment to seeking a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

However, Leadership from the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) have expressed optimism, anticipating that the IGAD-facilitated meeting could pave the way for substantial political dialogue that would address the root causes of the conflict and establish a unified, professional national army focused on safeguarding the people rather than being a source of violence.