by RAJI BASHIR
KHARTOUM – THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) is concerned at the war ravaging Sudan, in the eastern bloc.
Sudan has embarked on a mission to clarify its situation to Southern Africa, seen as the most stable regional bloc of the continent.
Malik Agar Nganyoufa Eyre, special envoy and Vice President of Sudan, has been on a charm offensive to mobilise SADC governments in favour of the military regime of Abdel Fattah al-Burhan Abdelrahman al-Burhan.
Eyre has been to Namibia and Zambia in recent days, with his advocacy encountering mixed fortunes.
In Namibia, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed her frustration with what she termed as the slow progress made in terms of the “Silencing the Guns” initiative.
The initiative is aimed at ending all wars and preventing genocide, among others, adding that socio-economic development and prosperity are impossible without lasting peace on the continent.
Critics have labelled the Silencing the Guns as a failure, mostly due to Africa’s policy of “quiet diplomacy.”
Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed her disappointment in the meeting with Eyre in Windhoek,
“Africa should focus on socio-economic transformation to create a prosperous and integrated continent as articulated in Agenda 2063 and its implementation plan,” Nandi-Ndaitwah added.
Namibia’s first female president, since her election in late 2024, is outspoken and an advocate for equality.
Eyre has also been in Zambia, where he met President Hakainde Hichilema.
“Zambia remains deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict in Sudan and stands in full solidarity with its people, many of whom have been displaced, injured or tragically lost their lives,” Hichilema said.
Sudan, ever volatile since independence in 1956, has suffered a series of upheaval.
The latest, ongoing, episode escalated in 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces clashed.
– CAJ News
