By John Ikani
Kenya’s President, William Ruto, has reiterated his country’s commitment to organizing a face-to-face meeting with the warring generals in Sudan to resolve the ongoing crisis.
“As the chair of the regional quartet, consisting of Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Kenya,” President Ruto said “the importance of engaging directly with the two parties involved in order to find a sustainable solution cannot be overemphasied.”
Since April 15, Sudan has been engulfed in fierce clashes between the army, led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), headed by former deputy military chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti.
President Ruto acknowledged the gravity of the situation and stressed that the quartet leaders will convene within the next three weeks to initiate an inclusive national dialogue in Sudan.
Addressing the pressing need for humanitarian aid, plans are underway to establish a humanitarian corridor within two weeks.
The corridor will facilitate the effective distribution of aid to those affected by the conflict.
The president’s office released a statement following the Igad summit in Djibouti, outlining these important developments.
While mediation efforts have been underway by Saudi Arabia and the United States since the beginning of the conflict, multiple ceasefire agreements have unfortunately been violated.
The ongoing strife has resulted in a significant loss of life, with hundreds of people killed, numerous individuals injured, and millions forced to flee their homes.