KHARTOUM – The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Workneh Gebeyehu, met Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Khartoum on Thursday during a high-level visit aimed at supporting peace efforts and strengthening cooperation between Sudan and the regional bloc.
According to IGAD and Sudan’s state news agency SUNA, Gebeyehu said the visit was intended to consult with Sudanese leaders and exchange views on achieving a sustainable peace, stressing that lasting peace must be led by Sudanese themselves rather than imposed from outside.
He expressed sympathy for those who have lost their lives during the conflict and described Sudan as a founding member of IGAD with a historic role linking the Arab and African worlds.
Gebeyehu said the delegation witnessed the scale of destruction in Khartoum and reiterated IGAD’s condemnation of human rights violations committed during the conflict, including those reported in El Fasher and other war-affected areas.
He also announced the official reopening of IGAD’s mission in Khartoum, describing the move as a renewed commitment to supporting Sudan’s national institutions, peacebuilding, reconstruction and recovery efforts, while expanding the organization’s field presence and cooperation with regional and international partners.
According to SUNA, Gebeyehu said IGAD stands ready to support peace initiatives led by al-Burhan and the Sudanese government, emphasizing that the organization seeks to facilitate dialogue rather than dictate political solutions.
The visit marks IGAD’s latest effort to re-engage with Sudan after relations between the government and the regional bloc deteriorated during the conflict. Sudan suspended its participation in IGAD activities in January 2024 following disputes over the organization’s mediation efforts. The reopening of IGAD’s mission in Khartoum signals a gradual normalization of ties as regional actors seek to support a Sudanese-led path toward peace and stability.
