Global Courant 2023-04-21 20:57:24
Nairobi, Kenya
Kenyan President William Ruto on Friday offered to host a mediation process between the warring parties in Sudan to help restore peace in the country.
“We are making this proposal as an acceptably neutral space in the spirit of brotherhood, peace and solidarity, but also as a relevant stakeholder who is well-agreed with the challenges facing our region,” Ruto said in a statement.
He said a peacefully negotiated solution to the conflict in Sudan is achievable and Kenya is ready to contribute.
He also appreciated the gesture of the parties to the Political Framework Agreement to cease hostilities, in response to the call of the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) heads of state and government summit on 16 April, and the subsequent meeting of African Union emergency ministers. The situation in Sudan was held on 20 April in Addis Ababa.
“We see the cessation of conflict as a welcome sign of goodwill, a commitment to halt the trend towards conflict, insecurity, instability and humanitarian crisis, and to pursue the peaceful resolution of the highlights of the framework agreement,” Ruto said.
President Ruto urged the parties to take full advantage of the opportunity to mediate Kenya’s peace process and urged the IGAD, AU and UN to mobilize an effective international coalition to support a comprehensive peace agenda for Sudan.
At least 413 people have been killed and more than 3,500 injured since last Saturday’s clashes between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in and around the capital Khartoum.
The RSF accused the army of attacking its forces south of Khartoum with light and heavy weapons, while the army claimed the paramilitary force was “spreading lies” and labeled it an “insurgent” group.
Sudan has had no functioning government since October 2021, when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s interim government and declared a state of emergency in what political forces called a “coup.”
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