IGAD timeline of diplomatic efforts

15 April

The Executive Secretary of IGAD urged SAF and RSF to:

  • immediately cease fighting
  • de-escalate the situation
  • resolve their differences through dialogue

16 April

IGAD convened its 40th extraordinary Summit virtually and adopted a communique that

  • urged civilian parties to engage in assisting cessation of fighting
  • tasked a high-level delegation led by South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir Mayardit to mediate the two parties

7 May

The Executive Secretary of IGAD urged the SAF and RSF to immediately and unconditionally agree to a humanitarian ceasefire as the two parties started pre-negotiation talks in Jeddah.

12 June

The 14th ordinary session of IGAD Heads of State and Government, held on 12 June in Djibouti, decided to expand IGAD’s mediation team and established quartet comprising Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Somalia to resolve the crisis in Sudan, with Kenya chairing the quartet.

19 June

Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the IGAD Quartet Group of Countries on Sudan held their first meeting and agreed to:

  • Implement IGAD Roadmap for peace in Sudan adopted at the 14th ordinary session of the IGAD summit, uphold the principle of subsidiarity, ensure Sudanese-ownership and leadership of the peace process, and facilitate the participation of AU in all meetings of the quartet;
  • Report to IGAD summit on preparations for the face-to-face meeting of the leaders of the warring parties in Addis Ababa;
  • Ensure that all the concerns and requests of the Sudanese people are duly considered and addressed;
  • Adopt a step-by-step approach towards the resolution of the conflict and prioritize the realization of face-to-face meeting;
  • Welcome the Jeddah process facilitated by Saudi Arabia and the US;
  • Launch an all-inclusive political process towards democratic and civilian rule to be hosted by Kenya in mid-July or the first week of August 2023;
  • Designate Senior Officials to coordinate the IGAD Quartet group of countries work and provide technical and advisory support;
  • Appoint an IGAD Special Envoy for Sudan;
  • Channel all official communications regarding the work of the IGAD Quartet group of countries t through the IGAD Secretariat; and
  • Regularly update IGAD summit Quartet group of countries on the work of the Committee.

10 July

Heads of State and Government of the IGAD Quartet Group of Countries for the resolution of the situation in Sudan held the 1st meeting in Addis Ababa and adopted a communique that:

  • Appreciated the efforts of the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia whose concern and commitment to peace in Sudan is very visible through the Jeddah talks;
  • Urged the parties to immediately stop the violence and sign an unconditional and indefinite ceasefire through a cessation of hostilities agreement that shall be supported by an effective enforcement and monitoring mechanism;
  • Decided to take concrete steps to facilitate immediate humanitarian assistance to all Sudanese affected by the conflict;
  • Resolved to request the East Africa Standby Force (EASF) summit to convene in order to consider the possible deployment of the EASF for the protection of civilians and guarantee humanitarian access;
  • Called upon states neighbouring Sudan to step up efforts for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and to take necessary measures to ease and lift any logistical barriers to the delivery of humanitarian aid including visa and customs requirements; and
  • Urged all Sudanese actors to engage in an all-inclusive Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led dialogue towards a sustainable peace; in this regard, IGAD in coordination with the AU will immediately commence on of civilian engagement process that will deliver on these objectives.

27 October

IGAD—represented by its Executive Secretary, United States of America, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and African Union (AU)—co-facilitate the Sudan Humanitarian Ceasefire Talks in Jeddah.

26 November

During his visit to Djibouti, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had a closed-door discussion with the president of Djibouti, Workneh Gebeyehu, the executive secretary of IGAD, and Ismail Omar Guelleh, the chairman of IGAD. They discussed ways to find a long-term solution to the current Sudanese situation, highlighting the importance of reaching a ceasefire.

9 December

The 41st Extraordinary Assembly of IGAD Heads of State and Government was held in Djibouti and discussed the situation in Sudan. The Assembly, among others:

  • Decided to fast-track efforts in organizing an IGAD-AU-facilitated all-inclusive Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led civilian dialogue aimed at forging national consensus towards the formation of a civilian-led transition.
  • Decided to establish an IGAD framework comprised of respected diplomatic and political interlocutors, nominated by IGAD Heads of Government to undertake the mediation efforts in Sudan.
  • Tasked the Executive Secretary of IGAD to present, within the shortest time possible to the IGAD Council of Ministers a candidate(s) for appointment as the IGAD Special Envoy to Sudan who shall coordinate and lead IGAD mediation efforts in Sudan;
  • Called for a unified Africa-anchored mediation process that coordinates the various national, regional, continental, and international efforts and tracks under the auspices of IGAD and the AU; and
  • Condemned ‘unwarranted interventions and interferences’ by external state and non-state actors in the conflict and further urged them to refrain from providing and re-supplying war assets and materiel to either side of the conflict.

31 December

The RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo met Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh, Chairperson of the IGAD Heads of State and Government to discuss the conflict in Sudan.

3 January 2024

Djibouti's President and IGAD Chairperson, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, reassures the Civil Democratic Forces Coordination (Taqqadum) leader Abdulla Hamdok of IGAD's unwavering commitment to peace in Sudan. Hamdok and a civilian forces delegation briefed President Guelleh on their stance and urged their participation in regional efforts to resolve the conflict and reinstate civilian rule. President Guelleh commends the role of Sudanese civil forces in the peace process, emphasizing the importance of civilian involvement.

18 January 2024

The 42nd Extraordinary Assembly of IGAD Heads of State and Government was held in Entebbe, Uganda. The Assembly, among others:

  • Expressed its concern by the continued war and dire humanitarian situation;
  • Reiterated its call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire as well as cessation of hostilities to end the war, commit to dialogue and negotiation.
  • Expressed IGAD’s continued readiness to offer its good offices to facilitate an all inclusive peace process to end the conflict in close collaboration with all Sudanese stakeholders, AU, and regional and international actors;
  • Recalled the commitment of the parties to the conflict for a face-to- face meeting within 14 days and called upon the parties to meet within two weeks;
  • Stressed that IGAD Member States will utilize all means and capabilities to ensure the conflict in Sudan is resolved peacefully and directed the IGAD Secretariat to provide an update to the Assembly;
  • Directed the IGAD Secretariat in coordination with the AUC to revise the Roadmap for the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan (adopted at its 14th Ordinary Session) with clear timelines; and within one month to convene a Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led process.
  • Called upon IGAD in coordination with AU and international community to mobilize support to end the war and for the peace process in Sudan; and Welcomed the appointment of the members of the High-Level Panel for Sudan by the AU Commission and called on the Panel to work closely and collaboratively with IGAD and other stakeholders.

26 March 2024

IGAD Executive Secretary announced the appointment of Hon. Lawrence Korbandy as Special Envoy for Sudan, in line with the resolution of the 41st Extraordinary Summit of the IGAD Assembly. The Special Envoy is tasked with a good office role, having the responsibility to actively engage, facilitate dialogue, and seek common ground in the Sudan crisis.

2 October 2024

IGAD calls for protection of civilians and Diplomatic Mission in Sudan. The Executive Secretary of the regional bloc expressed his deep concern over the escalation of violence and condemned the reported attacks on the residence of the Ambassador of the UAE in Khartoum.

19 January 2025

Djibouti, the current Chair of IGAD, expressed profound concern over reports of killings and human rights violations against civilians in Wad Madani, Al-Jazirah State, and other regions of Sudan, urging accountability and the protection of civilian rights.