Sudan suspends membership of IGAD

NOT seen this before, a news report from China using 'urgent' in a headline. Their reporting is good, accurate, measured, factual without sensationalism. 

Speaking of IGAD, wonder what became of EASF (Eastern Africa Standby Force) and why it or any other force is not being deployed to provide humanitarian corridors in Sudan, Chad and South Sudan for aid workers to reach people in urgent need of food, water, shelter, medical supplies.

Report from Xinhua

Dated Saturday, 20 January 2024 - here is a copy in full:

Urgent: Sudan suspends membership in eastern African block

KHARTOUM, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday the country has frozen its membership in the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, an eastern African bloc. Enditem

View original: http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2024-01/20/content_116954268.htm

ENDS

IGAD seeks summit to deploy EASF troops in Sudan

IGAD said in a statement today it had agreed to request a summit of another regional body, the 10-member Eastern Africa Standby Force, "to consider the possible deployment of the EASF for the protection of civilians and guarantee humanitarian access". Sudan is a member of both bodies, as are Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda. 

Unlike the talks in Jeddah, the IGAD meeting in Addis Ababa today was attended by members of a civilian coalition that shared power with the military in Sudan before a coup in 2021. IGAD said that along with the African Union, it would immediately start a "civilian engagement process" aimed at delivering peace. Read more.

Report by Reuters reprinted at yahoo.com

Reporting by Dawit Endeshaw and Hereward Holland

Writing by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Peter Graff

Published Monday 10 July 2023, 4:18 PM GMT+1 - here is a full copy:

Eastern African bloc seeks summit to deploy regional force in Sudan

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - An eastern African bloc called on Monday for a regional summit to consider deploying troops into Sudan to protect civilians, after nearly three months of violence between the army and a paramilitary faction.

Fighting that erupted on April 15 in Khartoum, Sudan's capital, has spread to other parts of the country and driven more than 2.9 million people from their homes.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), made up of eight states in and around the Horn of Africa, met in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to kick-start a peace process for the conflict in Sudan.

But the initiative faced a setback as a delegation from Sudan's army failed to attend the first day of meetings, having rejected Kenya's president as head of the committee facilitating the talks.

IGAD said in a statement it had agreed to request a summit of another regional body, the 10-member Eastern Africa Standby Force, "to consider the possible deployment of the EASF for the protection of civilians and guarantee humanitarian access".

Sudan is a member of both bodies, as are Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda.

Diplomatic efforts to halt fighting between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have so far proved ineffective, with competing initiatives creating confusion over how the warring parties might be brought to negotiate.

IGAD said it regretted the absence of a delegation from the Sudan army, which it said had earlier confirmed attendance.

Sudan's foreign affairs ministry, which is controlled by the army, said the delegation did not turn up because IGAD had ignored its request to replace Kenya's President William Ruto as head of the committee spearheading the talks.

Ruto "lacks impartiality in the ongoing crisis," the ministry said through the state news agency. Last month it accused Kenya of harbouring the RSF.

Neither Ruto's office nor the Kenyan ministry of foreign affairs responded immediately when Reuters sought comment. The Kenyan government said last month the president was a neutral arbiter who was duly appointed by the IGAD summit.

Following the meeting, Ruto called for an unconditional ceasefire and the establishment of a humanitarian zone — spanning a radius of 30 kilometres in Khartoum — to aid the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Talks hosted in Jeddah and sponsored by the United States and Saudi Arabia were suspended last month. Egypt has said it would host a separate summit of Sudan's neighbours on July 13 to discuss ways to end the conflict.

Unlike the talks in Jeddah, the meeting in Addis Ababa was attended by members of a civilian coalition that shared power with the military in Sudan before a coup in 2021.

IGAD said that along with the African Union, it would immediately start a "civilian engagement process" aimed at delivering peace.

FILE PHOTO: Man walks while smoke rises above buildings after aerial bombardment in Khartoum North

(Reporting by Dawit Endeshaw and Hereward Holland; Writing by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Peter Graff)

View original: https://news.yahoo.com/eastern-african-bloc-seeks-summit-151822183.html 

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Related reports

Sudan Watch - 27 May 2023

Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) starts 2-week training rapid reaction forces at UN centre in Uganda

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2023/05/eastern-africa-standby-force-easf.html

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Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) starts 2-week training rapid reaction forces at UN centre in Uganda

COULD THIS BE what I hope it is: a long awaited African rapid reaction force for crises such as Sudan? This report says 10 East African countries started a 2-week joint training at a UN Regional Service Centre in Uganda.

Report at The Independent Uganda

By Xinhua

Dated Tuesday 23 May 2023 - full copy:

East African countries start training of rapid reaction forces

Joint training started. FILE PHOTO

Kampala, Uganda | Xinhua | Troops from 10 East African countries on Monday began a two-week training at the United Nations Regional Service Centre in Uganda.

Personnel from Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda participated in the training that aims to create synergies and enhance the knowledge and understanding of peace support mission planning, said the East African Standby Force (EASF) in a statement.

“We cannot fulfil our mandate of enhancing peace and security without an effective planning entity for our region,” said Uganda’s Chief of Staff of the Air Force Brig. David Gonyi.

He said the training will enable regional countries to respond to scenarios like terrorism, election violence and disaster management.

“There is no doubt that the commitment given to this learning process is a clear testimony that capacity building and enhancement have a place they deserve in Africa and the region,” Gonyi said.

The EASF, which consists of military, police and civilian components, was established to provide capability for rapid deployment of forces to carry out preventive deployment, rapid intervention, peace support and stability operations, and peace enforcement.

View original: https://www.independent.co.ug/east-african-countries-start-training-of-rapid-reaction-forces/

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

AFRICAN STANDBY FORCE (ASF) 

The African Standby Force (ASF) is an international, continental African, and multidisciplinary peacekeeping force with military, police and civilian contingents that acts under the direction of the African Union. The ASF is to be deployed in times of crisis in Africa.^[2] Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, serves as the Force's Headquarters. Douala, Cameroon, was selected in 2011 as the site of the AU's Continental Logistics Base (LOGBASE).^[3]

Map of the partitioning of RECs and RMs of the ASF

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EASTERN AFRICA STANDBY FORCE (EASF)

In the East of the continent, the regional agent of African Standby Force (ASF) is known as the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF).

The Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), formerly Eastern Africa Standby Brigade (EASBRIG), is one of the five regional forces for Peace Support Operations (PSOs) of the African Standby Force, consisting of military, police and civilian components. 

EASF constitutes the regional operational arm of the peacekeeping elements of the African Peace and Security Architecture, put in place by the 2002 Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union.^[1][2]

East Africa Standby Force Logo

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VIDEO: Opening Ceremony of the 15th Ordinary Session of the STC on Defense, Safety and Security

Streamed live by African Union Friday 12 May 2023. 

Description on YouTube:
To consider the draft AU Strategic Framework for Compliance and Accountability in PSOs, and the draft AU, reflect on the outcomes of the workshop on the reconceptualization of the ASF and provide an update on the AMANI Africa III Continental Maritime Exercise.

Sudan: Ongoing turf war in Sudan - China, Russia reject calls for freeze on UN pullout from Sudan

NOTE from Sudan Watch editor: I have just read the the executive summary of the Sentry’s paper entitled Loan Wolves [https://thesentry.org/reports/loan-wolves/].

The last sentence, regarding Sudan, states that: 

“The country’s current military leaders and the new civilian government must therefore expose corrupt actors and hold them accountable while implementing strict measures to limit their influence”

In my view the whole paper is crazy. I shan’t be reprinting it here at Sudan Watch. Makes me wonder what John Prendergast & Co are smoking over there in the Sentry.

Despite some gaps and errors, essential reading: “The Ongoing Turf War in Sudan: Violent clashes between elements of Sudan’s security forces threaten the country’s progress toward democracy,” by Samuel Ramani, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace https://t.co/45xFBQ9q2F pic.twitter.com/R3i3iQc8X2

— Eric Reeves (@sudanreeves) February 21, 2020

NOTE from Sudan Watch editor: Eric Reeves’ tweet 21 Feb 2020 (above) links to a 20 Feb 2020 article at Carnegie Endowment.org by Samuel Ramani entitled The Ongoing Turf War in Sudan [https://carnegieendowment.org/sada/81119]. The article is a really good read. Upon reading the line, “Russia’s opposition to a UN peacekeeping presence in Darfur indirectly strengthens the RSF’s influence in that region” I followed its link to a 15 June 2019 news report by AFP entitled China, Russia reject calls for freeze on UN pullout from Sudan [https://www.thenational.ae/world/africa/china-russia-reject-calls-for-freeze-on-un-pullout-from-sudan-1.874526]. 

The article made me think of PM Hamdok’s filmed interview in Germany with Ms Aya Ibrahim of Deutsche Welle at the Munich Security Conference 17 Feb 2020 entitled Hamdok: 'Anyone who committed atrocities must be tried' [https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/sudans-pm-hamdok-anyone-who-committed-atrocities-must-be-tried/ar-BB105Y0Y] in which he talked about wanting the UN in the whole of Sudan under Chapter VI (note, not Chapter VII). 

Then it dawned on me: Chapter VI would free up PM Hamdok and his and Sudan's worldwide supporters to work in Sudan’s best interests and stop Russia and China vetoing votes on Sudan at UN Security Council. 

And, if needed, the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) has 5,200 troops ready to be deployed anywhere (Sudan Watch, 27 June 2019 - Eastern Africa Standby Force EASF is watching Sudan closely, playing an advisory role, ready to deploy if situation turns genocidal https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2019/06/eastern-africa-standby-force-easf-is.html)

Samuel Ramani is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Politics and International Relations at St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford, England, UK. Follow him on Twitter @samramani2 [https://twitter.com/SamRamani2]

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FURTHER READING

Russia’s secretive military operations on the rise in Africa

Article by and from AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY

Dated 14 August 2019

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2019/08/russias-secretive-military-operations.html

Eastern Africa Standby Force EASF is watching Sudan closely, playing an advisory role, ready to deploy if situation turns genocidal - #watch_Sudan_on_June30th

Article from The EastAfrican.co.ke 

By FRED OLUOCH

Published: Saturday, 22 June 2019 

Standby force is watching Sudan closely

The Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) is monitoring activities in the country

Photo: Members of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitaries are seen in the back of a technical (pickup truck mounted with a machine gun turret) during a rally in the village of Qarri, about 90 kilometres north of Khartoum, on June 15, 2019. (Credit Photo by - / AFP)

In Summary

• EASF has put aside $2.6 million as part of the peace funds.
• The Force is funded by Nordic countries as well as annual contributions by the 10 member states, paid on a pro-rata basis depending on the size of the country’s economy.

The Eastern Africa Standby Force is watching developments in Sudan and is ready to deploy if the situation turns genocidal.

EASF Director Abdillahi Omar Bouh told The EastAfrican that while there are still no signs of genocide and Sudan has not invited the regional force to intervene, they are playing an advisory role.

“Our mandate is that we first support peace for three months to avoid genocide, then the international community takes over. We have achieved full operational capability and can deploy in 14 days. However, the decision to deploy is a political one and it has to come from the summit of the EASF member states or the African Union,” said Dr Bouh.

He said that the EASF had been scheduled to be deployed in Gambia in 2017, but since the AU was keen to save money, they decided that it was cheaper to use the Economic Community of West African States because of proximity.

With 5,200 troops on the ready from July, the EASF can be deployed anywhere on the continent and not only in East Africa.

EASF has put aside $2.6 million as part of the peace funds. The Force is funded by Nordic countries as well as annual contributions by the 10 member states, paid on a pro-rata basis depending on the size of the country’s economy. For instance, Kenya pays $800,000, Uganda $400,000 and Djibouti $200,000.

Currently, only Seychelles, Ethiopia and Uganda have paid their dues, while other members are waiting for the beginning of their financial year in July. EASF member states are Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda.

One of the key challenges EASF has been facing is that three countries — Burundi, Comoros and Djibouti — are yet to ratify the agreement that established the force in 2014. In addition, the mandating process for the legal framework for deployment is yet to be tested.

Other challenges are sustaining the funding in case of deployment, and the dual membership of the members in the competing interests of the East African Community and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad).

Head of peace operations Major General Albert Kendagor said that EASF remains aware of the developments in Sudan and that there are high level consultations going on involving the AU and Igad.

On June 20, the Igad Council of Ministers held its first meeting on Sudan in Khartoum. The council announced that it will play a leading role in the negotiations between the Transitional Military Council (TMC) and the opposition Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) to transfer power to civilians.

In May, the military junta and the opposition agreed that a technocrat government appointed by the FFC would administrate the country during the three-year transitional period.

They also agreed that the opposition coalition will appoint 67 per cent of the 300-member parliament.

But early this month, TMC leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan abandoned negotiations with the protesters and instead declared that the elections will be held in the next nine months.

The TMC now wants half of the government and controlling rights, plus half of the parliamentary membership.

To view the original article, and more about the author, click here:

https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/africa/Standby-force-is-watching-Sudan-closely/4552902-5167666-n5ak2q/index.html

https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/2456-3985830-view-asAuthor-4j8htc/index.html

More by this Author FRED OLUOCH

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IMPORTANT: #watch_Sudan_on_June30th

On June 30th, the people of Sudan plan to hold a mass protest in hopes of forcing the Transitional Military Council to step down and hand over power to a civilian government. #watch_Sudan_on_June30th #راقبوا_السودان_في_30يونيوTo view the above tweet click here: https://twitter.com/isra_bashir/status/1143393003924574209

On June 30th, the people of Sudan plan to hold a mass protest in hopes of forcing the Transitional Military Council to step down and hand over power to a civilian government. #watch_Sudan_on_June30th#راقبوا_السودان_في_30يونيو

— Isra Bashir (@isra_bashir) 25 June 2019

To see above tweet click here: https://twitter.com/AmaalAbdelrahm1/status/1143641418205990912

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Strong message to #TMC from Ambassador James about 30 June 2019 

#Watch_Sudan_on_June30th#BlueForesudan@AbueissaAmel@_AfricanUnion@AJEnglish@BBCWorld@AsstSecStateAF@UNarabic@UNHumanRights@a85ded265c60427@adlan07338103@AssociationSd@PPhASudan@abu_idriss

Astrong message to #TMC thank you Ambassdor James #Watch_Sudan_on_June30th #BlueForesudan @AbueissaAmel @_AfricanUnion @AJEnglish @BBCWorld @AsstSecStateAF @UNarabic @UNHumanRights @a85ded265c60427 @adlan07338103 @AssociationSd @PPhASudan @abu_idriss pic.twitter.com/u1H7iDJtFo

— Amaal Abdelrahman (@AmaalAbdelrahm1) 25 June 2019

To see above tweet and video clip click here: https://twitter.com/AmaalAbdelrahm1/status/1143641418205990912

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8,560th Security Council Meeting: Reports of Secretary-General on Sudan and South Sudan held 25 June 2019

NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: I watched the following film last night. It felt strange listening to briefings eloquently spoken while I connected them to many miles of reports and images that have flown up into space and around the world since the Darfur war erupted in 2003 and war ravaged South Sudan.

I thought back to the days when this blog Sudan Watch started in 2004. The internet and blogging technology were in their infancy, there was no Twitter or Instagram, a map of Darfur was nowhere to be found online. We used dial-up modems to get online, sometimes it took minutes or hours or not at all. Here is the "Sound of dial-up internet" https://youtu.be/gsNaR6FRuO0 (The first comment at that page made me laugh: "Get off the internet, I'm on the phone")

Now, here we are, sixteen years later, millions of Sudanese lives destroyed, listening to incredible heartfelt words of peace. Each person giving a briefing seem to me to be genuine in the words they were conveying in a sombre arena with great technology: see the teleconferencing briefing from a great woman in Juba! 

Hopefully, longtime readers of Sudan Watch will watch this Security Council meeting on Sudan and South Sudan, imagine being there, think about the words being spoken and what it took to get them there. Who could predict it'd take sixteen long years to see a meeting such as this taking place.

Note, the diplomatic language used during one of the briefings referencing Messrs Kiir and Machar and the telling words used. They have until November to show if they are willing to let down the people of South Sudan. Greedy (expletive) gun-toting (expletive) rebels, they make my blood boil. They have destroyed and shattered millions of lives while feathering their own nests, travelling the world, staying in swanky hotels, getting feet kissed by the Pope who went down on his knees to beg for peace and for the killings to stop. Note that the speaker for South Sudan, in his briefing, spoke of Mr Machar not returning from Rome with Mr Kiir, it doesn't sound like the two are hurrying to meet. God help them.

To visit the UN multimedia website and above 1.45 hr long film, available in six languages, click here: https://www.unmultimedia.org/avlibrary/asset/2413/2413527/

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A Nigerian singer's heartfelt message to Sudan #blueforsudan

A Nigerian singer's message to Sudan#blueforsudan pic.twitter.com/TPID1LPosz

— Muj∆hed🌙 (@mjahed_salah) 17 June 2019

To see the above tweet and video song clip click here: https://twitter.com/mjahed_salah/status/1140749301037051906
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POSTSCRIPT FROM SUDAN WATCH EDITOR

Dear readers of Sudan Watch, apologies for the length of these posts, no time to make them nice and short and polished. It's taking time to read fast-moving news and cut through all the noise. I aim to make posts shorter. Right now, I need posts such as this to be in one place with yellow highlighting for my reference.

Please excuse cosmetic glitches. It's not been easy getting this blog up and running after a six-year hiatus, at the same time as tracking fast-moving news. The site needs more repairs but at least it is functioning. Please don't forget to check your Spam box incase Sudan news is delivered there. I aim to post daily.

If you are a new reader, please subscribe in the sidebar here to get copies of posts delivered free of charge to your mail box. You can read and delete or keep for future reference and forward them on to others. 

Internet is still down in Sudan. People around the world are working hard to communicate during blackout. A few days ago this site received visitors located in Sudan, nothing since. Watch for Sudan news 30 June.

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TMC has settled into its role before elections 

@SUNA_AGENCY’s statement read ‘secretary-general of the presidency of the republic’. There is no presidency since April 11th. The TMC has been throwing statements about elections but have settled into the role way before the polls they want to organize open.

— Hiba Morgan (@hiba_morgan) 26 June 2019

To see above tweet click here: https://twitter.com/hiba_morgan/status/1143953971436032001
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Sudan DRC #Watch_Sudan_on_June30th #IAmTheSudanRevolution

And we will embrace each other and cry the tears of joy one Day. Whoever painted this, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Sudan🇸🇩 ♥️ DRC🇨🇩#Watch_Sudan_on_June30th#IAmTheSudanRevolution pic.twitter.com/UNIJpn6u3E

— Walaa Isam Elboushi (@WalaaIsamAhmed) 26 June 2019

To visit this tweet click here:

https://twitter.com/WalaaIsamAhmed/status/1143966884104146944