Senior officials from east African countries have suggested sending an East African stand-by force to help protect civilians and guarantee humanitarian access.
In a meeting aimed at facilitating a face-to-face talk between the Sudanese army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), IGAD stated it was regrettable that the army delegation chose not to attend.
The Sudanese military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, had promised to boycott the summit after accusing Kenya – the regional body’s chair – of failing to be neutral and supporting the RSF.
