After Two Years, Sudan Resumes Membership in IGAD

Sudanese sources told Al-Sharq that the country’s Security and Defense Council has approved Sudan’s return to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) after a two-year suspension of its membership. The decision comes at a highly sensitive regional moment, restoring Sudan to the table of an organization that has historically played a pivotal role in security, mediation, and migration issues in East Africa.

The move signals an official desire to re-engage with the regional system following a period of political and diplomatic tensions, potentially opening new avenues for security coordination, resuming dialogue channels with neighbouring countries, and enhancing opportunities for humanitarian support amid the ongoing national crisis.

The return is also expected to spark wide discussions regarding the conditions of engagement, the nature of Khartoum’s role within the organization, and IGAD’s readiness to navigate the complexities of the current Sudanese context, particularly given the ongoing war and its humanitarian and security consequences.