Highlights: While fighting continues in Sudan, African diplomacy is active to intervene between the belligerents. If the situation continues to worsen, it could destabilize the region. Calls for peace are multiplying, especially from Kenya. IGAD wants to send a delegation to Khartoum "as soon as possible" to mediate and resume negotiations between the two sides. However, the security conditions are not yet met for his arrival in the country. The African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat has also expressed his willingness to go "immediately" to the country to try and mediate.

While fighting continues in Sudan, African diplomacy is active to intervene between the belligerents. The country holds an important place on the continent, bordering seven countries,...

Sudan: African diplomacy seeks to intervene between the belligerents

This satellite image distributed with the kind permission of Maxar Technologies taken on April 17, 2023 shows destroyed aircraft at Khartoum International Airport. AFP - HANDOUT

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

While fighting continues in Sudan, African diplomacy is active to intervene between the belligerents. The country holds an important place on the continent, bordering seven countries, between the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and the Sahel. If the situation continues to worsen, it could destabilize the region. Calls for peace are therefore multiplying, especially from Kenya.

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With our correspondent in Nairobi, Albane Thirouard

Kenyan President William Ruto called for peace on Saturday, saying he was "gravely concerned" about the crisis in Sudan and the consequences it could have on its people and the region. A protracted conflict in the country could have a negative impact on a region already hit by instability.

Diplomatic efforts are therefore multiplying. William Ruto spoke with the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell.

An emergency meeting of Igad, the East African authority for development, was also held on Sunday. The presidents of Uganda, Djibouti, South Sudan and Kenya were present by video conference.

They stressed the need for an "immediate and unconditional" cessation of hostilities. IGAD wants to send a delegation to Khartoum "as soon as possible" to mediate and resume negotiations between the two sides. It will be led by South Sudanese Salva Kiir, accompanied by William Ruto and Djiboutian Ismail Omar Guelleh. However, they are currently unable to move. Khartoum airport is closed and fighting continues in the capital.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has also expressed his willingness to go "immediately" to the country to try to mediate, but the security conditions are not yet met for his arrival.

In addition, Nairobi is concerned about this situation for its 3,000 nationals stranded in Khartoum. They were given an emergency number.

The American television channel Sky News explains that it had exchanged with General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan who would have said he was open to negotiations, although he also stressed, according to Sky News, that the current insecurity, including fighting around the airport, did not allow the IGAD delegation to go to Khartoum for the moment.

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Sudan: African diplomacy seeks to intervene between the belligerents

Sudan: African diplomacy seeks to intervene between the belligerents

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