The United Arab Emirates is calling for a ceasefire in Sudan in an apparent push for a peaceful solution.
And Abu Dhabi on Friday pooled Sudan's stakeholders in the region including Ethiopia, the African Union and regional bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) for a High-Level Humanitarian Conference to pledge aid for the troubled country.
The event in Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the African Union Summit brought together key regional and international actors to mobilise resources for Sudan and address the devastating humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing war.
But for Abu Dhabi, this was also a change of strategy after being accused of arming one of the warring factions, Rapid Support Forces, accusations it had vehemently denied. On Friday, officials said they were calling for a “Ramadhan ceasefire” to be timed with the upcoming Muslim Holy Month, as well as allow genuine resumption.of talks to end the war and stop the crisis.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres and President William Ruto of Kenya also participated in the conference.
Sudan's junta was not represented. Malik Agar, deputy head of the Sudan Sovereignty Council, had indicated the meeting was a violation of Sudanese sovereignty.
Sudan remains suspended in taking part in activities of the African Union, following a coup that preceded the ongoing war. Sudan had also quit Igad, although officials have recently been taking part in the bloc’s meetings.
Speakers at the conference highlighted the scale of the crisis in Sudan, describing it as one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world today.
Over half of Sudan’s population is facing food insecurity, with millions on the brink of famine, while the war has displaced more than 11 million people, collapsed the healthcare system, and led to the spread of preventable diseases.
The dire situation demands immediate and coordinated regional and global intervention, they stressed, emphasizing that it is time to end the war and ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in desperate need.
Among the participants was Dr Abdalla Hamdok, Chair of the Civil Democratic Alliance for the Forces of the Revolution (Somod), who delivered a strong call for international action to prioritise Sudan’s humanitarian crisis.
He urged the global community to enhance coordination efforts to secure essential aid, protect civilians, and work toward a peaceful resolution to the war that is now nearing its second year. Hamdok is a former Prime Minister, whose transitional government was ousted by the Sovereignty Council in October 2021.
Subscribe to continue reading this premium articleSubscribe to continue reading this premium article
