"IGAD" Calls for Discussing "Deploying Regional Force in Sudan"

On Monday, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development for East African States (IGAD) called for a regional summit to discuss the deployment of forces in Sudan to protect civilians after nearly three months of violence between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The fighting that broke out on April 15 in Khartoum has spread to other parts of the country, displacing more than 2.9 million people from their homes.

The meetings of the (IGAD) delegations, consisting of 8 countries in and around the Horn of Africa, began in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Monday to launch a peace process to resolve the conflict in Sudan.

But the initiative faced a setback, as a delegation from the Sudanese Armed Forces

did not attend on the first day of the meetings after refusing to let the Kenyan president head the facilitation committee for the talks.

The IGAD said in a statement that it had agreed to request a summit of another regional body, the 10-member East African Standby Force, with the aim of "considering the possible deployment of an East African force to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access."