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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Guard, gunman die in attack at US consulate in Jeddah

Report at Yahoo News
By Agence France Presse (AFP)
Published Thursday 29 June 2023, 12:31 am BST - here is a full copy:

Guard, gunman die in attack at US consulate in Jeddah: police

No Americans were harmed in the shooting outside the consulate in Jeddah, which was put under lockdown, the State Department said (MANDEL NGAN)

A security guard and a gunman were killed in an exchange of gunfire in front of the US consulate in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah on Wednesday, officials said.

No Americans were harmed in the shooting outside the consulate, which was put under lockdown, the State Department said.

"At 6:45 pm (1545 GMT), a man stopped in a car in front of the consulate building and got out with a weapon in his hand," the official Saudi Press Agency quoted a police spokesman as saying.

"Security forces reacted... resulting in an exchange of fire that killed the assailant," it said.

A Nepalese security officer was wounded and later died, it said.

"We offer our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased local guards member," the State Department said in a statement in Washington.

The State Department said that Saudi forces killed the assailant and that the United States was in touch with the kingdom as it starts an investigation.

"The consulate was appropriately locked down and no Americans were harmed in the attack," it said.

The attack occurred as Saudi Arabia welcomed some 1.8 million Muslim faithful for the annual hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca, some 70 kilometres (44 miles) from Jeddah.

The US consulate in the coastal city of Jeddah on the Red Sea has been the target of previous attacks, one on July 4, 2016, American Independence Day, when a suicide bomber blew himself up.

In December 2004, another attack left five people dead.

Jeddah has recently been a hub of US diplomatic activity as the United States and Saudi Arabia together try to mediate between warring generals in Sudan.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Jeddah earlier in June when he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

ht-saa-sct/yad

View original:  https://uk.news.yahoo.com/guard-gunman-die-attack-us-233125615.html

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UN Security Council calls for halt to fighting in Sudan & civilian protection. 85 groups reached 2.8M people

Note, this report describes the fighting in Sudan as war. It is conflict not war.

Report at ABC News - https://abcnews.go.com
By The Associated Press (AP)
Published Saturday 24 June 2023, 12:03 AM - here is a full copy:

UN Security Council calls for halt to fighting in Sudan and protection of civilians

The U.N. Security Council is calling for a halt to fighting in Sudan and the protection of civilians

Smoke rises over Khartoum, Sudan, Friday, June 23, 2023. Clashes between warring factions resumed in Sudan's capital and a neighboring city after a three-day cease-fire expired (AP Photo) The Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. Security Council called Friday for a halt to fighting in Sudan and the protection of civilians.

The brief press statement followed closed consultations by the U.N.’s most powerful body.

The council also called for the scaling up of humanitarian assistance to Sudan and neighboring countries, support for humanitarian workers, and respect for international humanitarian law.

Sudan descended into conflict in mid-April after months of worsening tensions exploded into open fighting between rival generals seeking to control the African nation. The war pits the military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, against the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary force commanded by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo.

A three-day cease-fire brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia expired Wednesday morning and a protest group and residents said clashes resumed between the army and the paramilitary force in and around the capital, Khartoum.

The conflict has been centered largely in the capital and western Sudan’s Darfur region, which have seen ethnically motivated attacks on non-Arab communities by the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias, according to U.N. officials.

The fighting has killed thousands of people and forced more than 2.5 million people to flee their homes to safer areas in Sudan and neighboring countries, according the U.N. migration agency.

The U.N. said Thursday that in the two months after the conflict began, some 85 humanitarian groups reached 2.8 million people across Sudan with vital assistance, including food, water, health services, education, sanitation, hygiene, non-food supplies and protection services.

"Partners are delivering medical supplies and providing support to health facilities that are still operating. Between 15 April and 15 June, 19 organizations reached more than 470,000 people," U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said.

View original: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/security-council-calls-halt-fighting-sudan-protection-civilians-100346915

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UN chief António Guterres: Sudan has descended into "death and destruction" at an unprecedented speed

Report at BBC News Live Reporting
By Richard Hamilton
BBC World Service Newsroom
Posted Monday 19 June 2023 at 15:05 pm GMT BST - full copy:

Sudan's descent into destruction unprecedented - Guterres

Reuters

Copyright: Reuters

Image caption: Hundreds have been killed since fighting broke out in April

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says Sudan has descended into "death and destruction" at an unprecedented speed.

"Without strong international support, Sudan could quickly become a locus of lawlessness, radiating insecurity across the region," Mr Guterres added when addressing a pledging conference.

He's been speaking at the start of an international humanitarian summit in Geneva, organised by the UN, Egypt, Germany, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, as well as the African Union and the European Union.

The UN says it's appealed for $3bn (£2.3bn) of funding this year, but less than 17% has been provided.

The conference comes mid-way through a three-day ceasefire between the rival military factions. Several previous truces have broken down.

Read more on this story:

Sudan conflict: What to do with the dead bodies in Khartoum

View original and sharing tools here. 

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Kenya's Ruto takes over Sudan crisis peace talks

NOTE, Talented cartoonist Omar Defallah always paints Hemeti with flip-flops on or near his feet. Sometimes they're pink! 

Cartoon by Omar Defallah  

Source: Radio Dabanga report 04 June 2023 ‘US/Saudi Arabian facilitators ‘stand ready to resume Jeddah talks on Sudan’

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Report at Kenyans.co.ke

By MARK OBAR 

Dated Tuesday, 13 June 2023; 11:45 am - full copy:

 

Ruto Takes Over Sudan Crisis Peace Talks After US Gives Up

Photo collage between President William Ruto and US President Joe Biden 

Speaking on Sunday, April 23, 2023. PCS POTUS

Kenya, on Monday, June 12, agreed to mediate in the Sudan conflict after efforts by the United States and Saudi Arabia to broker a ceasefire collapsed. 

President William Ruto stated that Kenya had a strong track record in mediating peace agreements in the region and that he was confident of ending the violence in Sudan.

In a concerted effort by  Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) countries, Ruto will seek to have the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) embrace new talks. 

"We will, in the next ten days, meet face to face with General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan so that we can speak to them directly on behalf of IGAD, with a view of stopping the war that is raging in Sudan. 

Part of a group of students who fled Sudan on Monday, April 24, 2023. PHOTO ROSELYN NJOGU

"We will ask them to cease all manner of hostilities and ensure that we have a commitment from them to stop the war that is going on in Sudan," Ruto stated.

In the strategy designed by the IGAD security organ, President Ruto, alongside three other leaders from Ethiopia, Djibouti, South Sudan and Somalia, will hold the talks in Nairobi. 

After the warring factions failed to agree on ending the ongoing conflict, IGAD expanded the initial team, which comprised South Sudan, Kenya and Djibouti.

Fighting resumed on Sunday, June 11, with renewed intensity following the end of a 24-hour ceasefire brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

Reports indicated there were sounds of air raids, artillery shelling and machine guns barely 30 minutes after the ceasefire ended in the morning.

Through the facilitation of the United States and Saudi Arabia, Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and his nemesis Mohamed Daglo Hemedti's sides had signed seven ceasefire deals, all broken within hours of declaration.

“The Sudanese Armed Forces (Saf) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) demonstrated effective command and control over their forces, resulting in reduced fighting throughout Sudan that enabled the delivery of vital humanitarian assistance and the achievement of some confidence building measures,’ a statement from the Jeddah talks read.

Mediations which were ongoing in Jeddah, and facilitated by Saudi Arabia and the US, were suspended, with mediators accusing parties of lacking seriousness. The US, however, was open to negotiating the talks afresh once assured that the warring factions had considered the gravity of the matter.

The UN estimated that at least 1,800 people were killed and more than 5,100 have been injured as of June 12, 2023. More than 200,000 people were also displaced from their homes.

Defence CS, Aden Duale, receives Kenyans who were rescued from Sudan by Kenya Air Force on April 25, 2023. PHOTO ADEN DUALE

View original: https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/90330-ruto-takes-over-sudan-crisis-peace-talks-after-us-gives

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Sudan Watch Editor Postscript:

This fun-fact tweet puts the latest news on the US-Saudi led ceasefire talks and US sanctions in a nutshell and saves me having to curate and publish ten long reads for posterity here at Sudan Watch...

Ive lost track of the number of times that the US has threatened to cancel or suspend the Jeddah talks…getting close to the same number of times they have threatened sanctions. https://t.co/PtmIiBJ4Ud

— Cameron Hudson (@_hudsonc) June 17, 2023

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Gunfire adds to violations near end of Sudan truce

IN SIX WEEKS of urban warfare, more than 1,800 people have been killed, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.

Nearly 1.4 million people have been displaced both within Sudan and to neighbouring countries, according to the United Nations.

A record 25 million people, more than half the population, are now in need of humanitarian assistance to survive, according to the UN.

Read more in report by AFP dated Sunday 28 May 2023:

Gunfire adds to violations near end of breached Sudan truce

A looted petrol station in southern Khartoum. (AFP)

The exodus continues -- people flee with their belongings from Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman. (AFP)

The truce has allowed some to venture out, including this man and boy in Omdurman. (AFP)

Full story: https://www.modernghana.com/news/1233858/gunfire-adds-to-violations-near-end-of-breached.html

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Sudan ceasefire: SAF and RSF claim violations

Cartoon by Omar Defallah (Radio Dabanga) 

Report at Radio Dabanga

Dated Wednesday 24 May 2023 - excerpt:

Sudan ceasefire: SAF and RSF swap accusations of violations

The army says that it “has notified the sides that have mediated the agreement that the rebel militia has not responded to any of the demands of the ceasefire”.

According to the office of the spokesperson of the SAF, the RSF occupied the currency printing press and currency mint on Tuesday.

The army claims that “out of its national and constitutional responsibility,” it “intervened to repel those continuing violations and expelled the enemy from the currency printing press and currency mint. The armed forces also fought enemy attacks in El Geneina and Zalingei on Wednesday and inflicted heavy losses in troops, weapons, and equipment.”

Full story: https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/sudan-ceasefire-saf-and-rsf-swap-accusations-of-violations

Sudan's military fights to keep Wadi Saeedna airbase

Hat tip with thanks to Cameron Hudson for this toys for the boys' war pr0n. I wonder if this technology, combined with satellite imagery, is the "international-supported ceasefire monitoring mechanism" being hinted at.

A recent video reportedly of a SAF drone strike on a RSF target. I was not under the impression that SAF had armed drones. Can others confirm the veracity of this video and who may have provided them drones? Could be a new turning point despite just signing Jeddah deal. pic.twitter.com/OOzH39ak9R

— Cameron Hudson (@_hudsonc) May 21, 2023

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MEANWHILE, SAF's fighting to keep Wadi Saeedna airbase. Read more.

Report at BBC News

By Zeinab Mohammed Salih, Khartoum

Dated Sunday 21 May 2023 - full copy:

Sudan conflict: Army fights to keep Wadi Saeedna airbase, residents say

Sudan's army is resisting an attempt by paramilitaries to advance towards its main airbase near the capital Khartoum, residents have said.

The airfield is used by the military to carry out air strikes on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and was also used by foreign governments to evacuate their nationals early in the conflict.

The fighting comes despite the announcement of a new seven-day truce.

Previous ceasefires have collapsed within minutes of being called.

A US-Saudi statement said the latest truce would come into effect on Monday evening, and would be different as it provides for a "ceasefire monitoring mechanism".

The US and Saudi Arabia have been brokering talks between the army and the RSF in the Saudi city of Jeddah for the past two weeks in an attempt to end the conflict that broke out on 15 April.

Most people I spoke to in Khartoum said a ceasefire would hold only if international monitors - backed by United Nations (UN) peacekeepers - are deployed.

In a sign of their lack of confidence in the latest ceasefire deal, bus loads of residents are continuing to flee Khartoum and its sister cities across the River Nile, Bahri and Omdurman, as there has been no let-up in the fighting.

RSF fighters in about 20 trucks are positioned east of the Nile, and are trying to cross a bridge to reach the Wadi Saeedna airfield.

The Sudanese military has retaliated by firing heavy artillery.

The battle has been going on for several days, but it has escalated.

"It feels like doomsday from early this [Sunday] morning. I think they will torture us until this ceasefire comes into effect," said a resident in Bahri's Khojalab suburb.

The military cannot afford to lose control of the airfield, as it is key to its strategy of pounding the RSF from the air as it fights to regain control of Khartoum and the other two cities.

An air strike also took place in Omdurman on Sunday, and explosions could be heard in its southern areas.

Earlier, the US State Department acknowledged previous failed attempts at brokering peace in Sudan, but said there was a key difference this time.

"Unlike previous ceasefires, the agreement reached in Jeddah was signed by the parties and will be supported by a US-Saudi and international-supported ceasefire monitoring mechanism," it said, without giving more details.

Sudan's military said it was committed to the agreement. The RSF has not commented.

The deal also allows for the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Stocks of food, money and essentials have fast declined and aid groups repeatedly complained of being unable to provide sufficient assistance in Khartoum.

Both the regular army and the RSF have been urged to allow the distribution of humanitarian aid, restore essential services and withdraw forces from hospitals.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Twitter: "It is past time to silence the guns and allow unhindered humanitarian access.

"I implore both sides to uphold this agreement - the eyes of the world are watching."

View original: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-65662939

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