Hommam Al Nassim 
International efforts to stop the ongoing war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have intensified for 10 months, with the approaching end of the 14-day period set by the extraordinary summit of member states of the African Development Authority (IGAD) on January 18, for army commanders Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and Rapid Support Mohamed Hamdan Daglo “Hemedti” to hold a direct meeting between them to stop the war.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock held talks in South Sudan on Friday, and Baerbock discussed with the Kenyan president on Thursday the roadmap adopted by IGAD.
Ahead of Baerbock’s visit, Nairobi last week received the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Sudan, Ramtan Lamamra, and CIA Director William Burns, who also reiterated support for the African roadmap to resolve the Sudanese crisis.
Nairobi also hosted the head of U.S. Africa Command, Michael Langley, who held what was described as “sensitive” talks with African officials.
IGAD said that it will work to use all means and capabilities to stop the war in Sudan, noting that it will set a specific timetable for the implementation of its plan, which includes a permanent ceasefire, turning Khartoum into a demilitarized capital, removing the forces of both sides of the fighting to assembly centers 50 kilometers from the capital, deploying African forces to guard strategic institutions, in addition to addressing the humanitarian crisis and starting a political process to settle the crisis permanently.
The United Nations, the European Union and the United States of America confirmed their support for the IGAD plan, following meetings with Kenyan President William Ruto in Nairobi, which received senior international officials over the past few days to discuss ways to contain the Sudanese crisis caused by the war that has killed 13,000 people and displaced nearly 10 million so far.
A severe humanitarian crisis in Sudan: Hundreds of thousands are threatened with hunger