IGAD Calls on Leaders, Members States to Ending Sufferings of Sudanese People

Addis Ababa December 9/2023 (ENA) IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu urged leaders and members states to end the suffering of Sudanese people through collective wisdom and concrete action.

Workneh called for urgent resolution of the sufferings of Sudanese, at the 41st Extraordinary Assembly of IGAD Heads of State and Government held in Djibouti today.  

Speaking on the opening session, he said the challenges the Sudanese people are facing demand our collective wisdom, commitment and concrete action.

The executive secretary noted that the region stands at a critical juncture with the ongoing conflict in Sudan, casting a shadow over the aspiration of peaceful and prosperous Horn of Africa.

He also expressed his appreciation to the partial agreement reached during the Jeddah talks, which made a significant step forward in settling the issue of humanitarian access.

The agreement, while commendable, requires leadership, urgent attention and effective implementation to alleviate the imminent suffering by our brother and sisters in Sudan.

Yet it is our moral duty to expedite the implementation of the partial resolution of the Jeddah agreement as fellow citizens continue to suffer in this contracted conflict, Workneh added.

According to him, the committed leadership of President Ismail Omar Guelleh and leaders of members states have to appeal to all to mobilize full political and diplomatic support regionally, continentally, and globally.   

"We must insist on the immediate establishment of ceasefire agreement, silencing of the guns that have been wrecking havoc on the life of innocent civilians, brothers and sisters in Sudan," he stressed.

The executive secretary pointed out that the IGAD family must stand united in its determination to bring about cessation of hostilities, allowing for the space and conditions necessary for comprehensive and inclusive dialogue. 

Africa Union Commissioner, Moussa Faki Mahamat said on his part that the situation in Sudan has deteriorated and there is flagrant and widespread violation of human rights and the sufferings of civilians have become huge.

Today, everyone is aware of the tireless efforts made by the AU since the change of regime in Sudan in 2019, he noted, adding that the Sudanese people have also witnessed the positive results obtained at that time by the African Union supported by Ethiopia.

According to the commissioner, the multiplicity of parallel initiatives is a negative factor in the sense that they often constitute to complicate rather than facilitate a solution.

He strongly urged all to solemnly claim commitment to the joint IGAD-AU action supported by the expanded mechanism and its core group.