Addis Ababa: 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. Diplomatic efforts to halt fighting between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have so far proved ineffective, with competing initiatives creating confusion over how the warring parties might be brought to negotiate. 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.

Source: Ethiopian News July 10, 2023 16:23 UTC