By Chris Muhizi for MCN.
President William Ruto spoke with Sudan junta head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Sunday, the first step since the Sudanese army chief explicitly rejected the Kenyan leader’s mediation role.
“I spoke with the chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, General Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman al-Burhan,” President Ruto tweeted.
“The Igad and Jeddah processes must collaborate to facilitate the implementation of a permanent ceasefire in Sudan.” They must also advocate for the free passage of humanitarian aid, the protection of refugees, and the resuscitation of the political process.”
General Burhan, the commander of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) engaged in combat with Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, alias Hemedti, and his Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary organization, had previously rejected mediation efforts by four members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) headed by the president of Kenya.
Even though the specifics of the phone call were withheld, it is President Ruto’s attempt to demonstrate his objectivity in the face of allegations that he has close economic ties to Hemedti, even if Burhan has not offered any proof to support his claims.
Since fighting between the SAF and RSF started, three million people have been displaced and about 3,000 people have died.
However, Dr. Ruto demanded that the fighting, which started on April 15 of this year, end and that parallel mediation panels seek a long-lasting settlement.