Sudan’s warring generals agreed to hold a face-to-face meeting as part of efforts to establish a cease-fire and initiate political talks to end the country’s devastating war, an African regional bloc said Sunday. Meanwhile, Sudan’s government ordered the expulsion of 15 diplomats from the United Arab Emirates over Abu Dhabi’s alleged support of rebel forces.
The country has been in turmoil for several years, ever since a popular uprising forced the removal of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019. The short-lived transition to democracy was derailed when the two generals joined forces to lead a military coup in October 2021. The conflict has wrecked the country and killed up to 9,000 people as of October, according to the United Nations. However, activists and doctors’ groups say the real toll is far higher.
In a meeting of the leaders of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, a grouping of East African countries, both Sudanese generals agreed to “an unconditional cease-fire and resolution of the conflict through political dialogue,” and to hold a “a one-to-one meeting,” the bloc said in a statement Sunday.
Meanwhile Sunday, the state-run Sudan News Agency reported the expulsion of the Emirati diplomats, citing the Foreign Ministry. It said the Emiratis had been told 15 diplomats had been declared persona non grata and been ordered to leave Sudan within 48 hours.
Media reports have alleged that the Emirates supplied arms to Dagalo’s forces in the conflict as part of a way to protect the country’s business interests in Sudan, including in agriculture and a Red Sea port. The Emirati government at the time denied arming the rebels.
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