Dear IGAD,
We write to the Intern-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) with concerns about the resignation of the former Sudanese Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok, that is likely to put Sudan’s political future into deeper uncertainty.
In his resignation speech that was widely reported by several international media, Hamdok said a roundtable discussion is needed to agree on a new “national charter” and to “draw a roadmap” to complete Sudan’s transition to democracy.
“I decided to give back the responsibility and announce my resignation as prime minister, and give a chance to another man or woman of this noble country to … help it pass through what’s left of the transitional period to a civilian democratic country,” Hamdok said.
He also warned that the ongoing political stalemate since the military takeover could become a full-blown crisis and damage the country’s already battered economy.
“I tried as much as I possibly could to prevent our country from sliding into a disaster. Now, our nation is going through a dangerous turning point that could threaten its survival unless it is urgently rectified,” he said.
The prime minister’s resignation came hours after Sudanese security forces violently dispersed the pro-democracy protesters against the coup, killing at least three people, according to the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD).
IGAD as the African Union’s child that is tasked with the responsibility to mediate peace and stability in the region, has a great role to play to ensure that peace and stability return to Sudan and its neighbours. IGAD should resolve the political stalemate in Sudan that has been in existing since the removal of Omar al Bashir three years ago.
The stability of Sudan is very important for the survival of the ongoing implementation of South Sudan’s revitalised peace agreement because the two countries share common political, economic, and social features that one cannot prosper alone with the other.
The former Prime Minister Hamdok was the Chairman of IGAD on the merit of his position as the Sudanese head of state. But with his resignation, it is not clear whether as a common person, he would continue as the chair of IGAD that is tasked to oversee the peace implementation in South Sudan.
Since the signing of the revitalised peace agreement, which also resulted in the Juba peace agreement that ended the fighting between the Sudanese government and the SPLA-North, there has been significant improvement in the relationship between Sudan and South Sudan. There have been no more counter-accusations of supporting rebels, and this is because the leaders have realised the importance of good neighbours.
We, therefore, plead with IGAD to address the situation in Sudan to allow stability in both nations. South Sudan is still transitioning from war to peace and the dream for sustainable peace may not be realised when its most needed neighbour, Sudan’s political future, is uncertain.
It is time for IGAD to act now and take the right decision to ensure the political turmoil in Sudan is urgently addressed to preserve the Juba peace agreement and the revitalised peace agreement.