South Sudan Kiir, ex-PM Hamdok discuss efforts for peace in Sudan

Abdallah Hamdok was chosen as chair of the the Civil Front to Stop the War (CFSW), Addis Ababa, October 26 (Photo: CFSW

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir met with former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, where they discussed the need to resolve the current war in Sudan, now nearing its eighth month.

Kiir and Hamdok’s meeting occurred during negotiations by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD Quartet), led by Kenyan President William Ruto. Leaders from the IGAD Quartet (Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti) have voiced their concerns about the ongoing Sudan crisis, expressing disappointment over the lack of improvement since the quartet’s earlier resolutions during their meeting in Ethiopia two months ago.

Kiir and Hamdok’s meeting also follows the arrival of a delegation from the Forces for Freedom and Change-Central Council (FFC-CC) in the capital of South Sudan, Juba, at the invitation of President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

During the African summit meetings, Salva Kiir met with the presidents of Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Kenya, in addition to SAF Commander-in-Chief and President of the Sovereignty Council Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, indicating that all parties welcome the involvement of South Sudan.

Several initiatives are actively working to resolve the Sudanese crisis, including the Jeddah Platform, mediated by Saudi Arabia, the United States, the African Union, the Civil Front to Stop the War, alongside the IGAD Quartet.

Tagaddum

Last October, Hamdok was chosen as head of the Democratic Civil Forces (Tagaddum), a newly established coalition concerned with stopping the war. Tagaddum includes a number of parties, political forces, and civil society organizations.

Tagaddum held extensive discussions in the past few months, focusing on practical strategies to expedite an end to the conflict, culminating in a proposed six-step roadmap to end the war.

An informed source told Radio Dabanga that the roadmap proposes a comprehensive ceasefire, integrated with effective monitoring mechanisms, to support the Jeddah platform’s ongoing efforts in achieving a cessation of hostilities.

Eight months after the outbreak of fighting between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in mid-April, many Sudanese remain hopeful at every effort that can contribute to stopping the war and returning them to their normal lives after they were afflicted with destruction and displacement, including Taggadum’s efforts.

The south-Sudanese president has endorsed the creation of a joint committee, bringing together the FFC-CC and the South Sudan Mediation Committee for Peace in Sudan, aiming to “enhance communication, follow-up, and coordination”.