IGAD asks for extension of Sudan ceasefire

GOOBJOOG NEWS: The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), has asked the warring sides in the Sudan conflict to extend the ceasefire until the end of the month as South Sudan pushes efforts for dialogue.

South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir, has renewed calls for cessation of clashes in Sudan, asking the Abdel Fattah al-Burha the Sudan Armed Forces head and his nemesis Mohamed Hamdani Daglo ‘Hemedti’ who commands the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), to embrace dialogue as a way of de-escalating the conflict.

President Kirr alongside Kenya’s William Ruto and Ismail Omar Gulleh of Djibuti have been drafted by IGAD to represent the bloc in talks with the warring generals in Khartoum.

However, the continued clashes and the partial implementation of ceasefire meant travelling was risky and both Ruto and Kiir separately, invited the Sudanese generals for peace talks.

None of the two generals have publicly responded to the calls and have gone on to accuse each other of violating the ceasefire. Egypt, Israel and Turkey have made gestures to mediate too.

IGAD’s executive secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyeh lauded president Kirr’s efforts to engage the two generals in talks to end the clashes  underscoring the need for immediate cessation of hostilities, de-escalation and return to the negotiating table, and to allow the high-level IGAD peace-mission to take place without any further delay.

“I appreciated and commended President Kiir’s consistent engagement and support to IGAD mediation efforts and I am confident that with the Assembly’s and international community’s continued efforts and dedication will help stop the fighting and de-escalate the situation’,” said Dr Workneh.