Sudan’s deputy head of the ruling Sovereign Council, Malik Agar, signalled Khartoum’s intention to rejoin the regional bloc IGAD and the African Union during a visit to Djibouti on Sunday, both Sudanese and Djiboutian officials said.
Agar delivered a letter from Sovereign Council leader and army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The letter addressed bilateral ties and, crucially, Sudan’s desire to reactivate its membership.
“The main content of this message essentially concerns the announcement of Sudan’s desire to rejoin IGAD,” a statement from the Djiboutian government said. Djibouti hailed the move as a “resounding diplomatic victory,” having worked to persuade Sudan to reverse its suspension.
Sudan’s Foreign Ministry Undersecretary, Hussein Al-Amin Al-Fadil, confirmed to reporters that Agar “renewed Sudan’s desire to resume its activities in IGAD, after its suspension during the war.”
Agar and Guelleh discussed the conflict in Sudan, its political trajectory, and its standing within both the African Union and IGAD, Al-Fadil added.
Sudan suspended its IGAD membership on January 20, 2024, protesting the participation of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemetti, at an extraordinary summit in Uganda. The African Union suspended Sudan after a military coup on October 25, 2021, led by al-Burhan and with Hemetti’s involvement.
The meeting in Djibouti also addressed the ongoing conflict, which has resulted in widespread casualties, a humanitarian crisis, and significant infrastructure damage, according to the Djiboutian statement.
Djibouti reiterated its commitment to promoting peace and unity in Sudan, both bilaterally and through its IGAD presidency. It outlined a phased peace plan involving an immediate ceasefire, followed by political talks and, ultimately, inclusive elections. Djibouti also emphasized its support for Sudan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Al-Fadil said Agar congratulated Guelleh on Djibouti’s election to chair the African Union Commission and expressed confidence in the new leadership’s ability to guide the body and address African issues. Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, was elected to head the AU Commission in February.
The Sovereign Council said Agar also met with Youssouf to discuss the situation in Sudan and ways to facilitate Sudan’s return to full AU membership. The council said the circumstances surrounding Sudan’s suspension “came at a different stage from the one Sudan is currently going through.”
It quoted Youssouf as saying the AU Commission was prepared to discuss Sudan’s status and the resumption of its activities with relevant bodies within the continental organization.