Ethiopian and Kenyan Leaders’ Statements Anger Khartoum Sudan Rejects Deployment of Foreign Forces on Its Territory, deeming it an act of aggression.
The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced its rejection of the deployment of any foreign forces in the country, affirming that it will consider them as invading forces.
The ministry expressed its dismay at the statements made by Kenyan President William Ruto and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed regarding the crisis in Sudan, considering them a rejected infringement on Sudan’s sovereignty.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Sudanese delegation’s attendance in Addis Ababa before the start of the meeting, and their communication with the organizing party, confirm Sudan’s sincere desire to find solutions to the crisis.
The ministry clarified that the content of the statement by the Quadripartite Committee of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) regarding the absence of the Sudanese government delegation is inaccurate and contradicts reality.
It emphasized that credibility requires mentioning the delegation’s non-participation due to their objection to Kenyan President William Ruto’s chairmanship of the quadripartite committee.
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry expressed its astonishment at the statements made by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, stating that there is a leadership vacuum in the country, which implies a lack of recognition of the current state leadership.
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry confirmed its rejection of the statements made by Kenyan President William Ruto, which he repeated during the press conference following the quadripartite committee meetings. The statement considered the statements by the Kenyan president and the Ethiopian prime minister as a violation of Sudan’s sovereignty, which is unacceptable.
Kenyan President William Ruto had stated that the situation in Sudan is disturbing and requires a bold and comprehensive dialogue on peace and a new leadership. During a press conference on Monday.
He added that ethnic attacks in Darfur are escalating towards committing genocide in the Sudanese region, noting that the situation in Sudan urgently requires new leadership capable of extricating it from the humanitarian disaster.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called for immediate measures in Sudan, including imposing a no-fly zone and removing heavy artillery.
He stressed that Sudan suffers from a leadership vacuum, emphasizing the need not to remain idle since the consequences are dire for Sudan and the region.
The IGAD summit, which included four heads of state from the region, concluded on Monday, and its final statement called on the parties to the conflict to engage in dialogue and cease hostilities, emphasizing the importance of a negotiated solution.
The Sudanese army delegation boycotted the meeting due to Kenya’s chairing of the sessions, while a representative from the Rapid Support Forces attended.
The objections of the Sudanese delegation did not receive attention from the participants in the meeting, as the session proceeded under the presidency of Kenya’s President William Ruto, with the participation of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, representatives from Somalia, Djibouti, and South Sudan, IGAD delegates, and representatives from the United Nations, as well as Saudi Arabia, the United States, Egypt, and the European Union.
The Foreign Ministry’s statement addressed IGAD, stating that the disregard for the opinions of member states would lead the Sudanese government to reconsider the feasibility of its membership in the organization.
The Sudanese government welcomed the summit of neighbouring countries hosted by the Arab Republic of Egypt tomorrow, aimed at discussing the crisis in Sudan, in line with its position that welcomed the Saudi-American initiative in Jeddah.