”IGAD” interferes with Sudanese sovereignty 

Dr Yasir Mahgoub Elhussein

No one could have imagined that the standards that strike

values and ethics in this troubled world would reach the point

where a gang leader- known for killing, looting, and raping –

roams among the halls of meetings of the heads of state of the

“IGAD” (Intergovernmental Authority on Development), and then

it is called a search for peace. “IGAD” did leave Sudan with no

choice but to make the right decision to freeze its membership

in this dilapidated organization that has gone astray,

deliberately tampering with the security, and stability of the

country and violating its national sovereignty. The organization’s

disregard for Sudan’s decision, officially conveyed to stop its

engagement and freeze its dealings with it on any issues

related to the current situation in the country, was the straw that

broke the camel’s back. The Kampala Summit statement

contained phrases violating Sudan’s sovereignty and provoking

the feelings of the victims of the atrocities committed by the

rebel militias. Sudan has confirmed that he is not bound, and

does not care much about anything that “IGAD” issues

regarding its affairs. Perhaps what is required for the search for

peace and reconciliation between two parties, on the part of the

heads of states, is that there's a political issue or political

demands for one of the parties. But when a gang or armed

militia comes along with no political project, and commits on

innocent civilians what the Mongols and Tatars did in the past;

in spite of that this leader has been received and celebrated by

the dignitaries!. This is what the “IGAD” organization has

brought, leaving the fight against locusts to enter this quagmire

and undermine the sovereignty of a member state, and an

institution of this assembly that has completely lost its compass.

“IGAD” has deliberately ignored the crimes of the Rapid Support

Forces militia against the Sudanese citizens. These crimes

have been documented by the members of the militia

themselves, out of stupidity or flaunting evil and challenging all

customs and values. Was that flaunting for their knowledge that

a (respectable) organization could provide them with a political

refuge and cover?

At the end of the summit held in Uganda, the leader of the

Rapid Support Forces militia, whose life or death is still in doubt,

said after his participation in that summit: “The summit was an

opportunity to provide a detailed explanation to the heads of

state of the organization about the reasons for the crisis in

Sudan.” So “IGAD” listened to the killer as he claimed to be the

victim. What is surprising is that “IGAD” did not invite, for

example, the leader of the Ethiopian Tigray movement, despite

being a movement with a political project and having no criminal

record against civilians. Even at the last summit in Uganda,

Ethiopia refused to attend because it included a discussion of

its problem with Somalia resulting from Addis Ababa’s signing

of a military agreement with the Republic of Somaliland, which

is separated from Somalia by one side and has not received

any international recognition until now. That agreement was

considered illegal, outside the scope of international rules, and

a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty, threatening its unity and

independence. Ethiopia, an active member of “IGAD,” continued

to boast that its issues are prohibited from being

internationalized and do not allow its national sovereignty to be

touched. Sudan’s national sovereignty dictates that Sudan

determines how its problems are solved and who undertakes

them from those who trust them if necessary. As with any

mediation in any conflict or dispute, the consent of both parties

is required, and mediation cannot be imposed on one party.

Even the United Nations cannot impose its solutions except

through Article 7, which requires procedures that include the

approval of the permanent members of the Security Council.

Article 2 of the United Nations Charter states that (this Charter

does not authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters

that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state,

and does not require members to submit such matters to

settlement under the Charter, subject to the provisions of

Chapter VII). “IGAD” is taking an external initiative that affects

Sudan’s national sovereignty, as it has proposed mechanisms

that the Sudanese army cannot accept, such as disarming the

capital, which includes the most important headquarters of the

army. And also a proposal to ban flights, and another to

introduce African forces into Sudan without consultation, all of

which are proposals that affect the sovereignty of the country.