By Dawit EndeshawADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - An eastern African bloc called on Monday for a regional summit to consider deploying troops into Sudan to protect civilians, after nearly three months of violence between the army and a paramilitary faction. IGAD said it regretted the absence of a delegation from the Sudan army, which it said had earlier confirmed attendance. The Kenyan government said last month the president was a neutral arbiter who was duly appointed by the IGAD summit. Egypt has said it would host a separate summit of Sudan's neighbours on July 13 to discuss ways to end the conflict. IGAD said that along with the African Union, it would immediately start a "civilian engagement process" aimed at delivering peace.

Source: Ethiopian News July 11, 2023 04:51 UTC