President Yoweri Museveni has expressed his willingness to mediate the ongoing civil war in Sudan, provided both warring factions agree to his involvement.
Speaking during a meeting with the United Nations Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, at State House Entebbe, Museveni stated, “I am ready to mediate the conflict if they are agreeable.”
The civil war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, pits two major military factions against each other: the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), headed by Janjaweed leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti.
The conflict has plunged the country into chaos, with millions of civilians caught in the crossfire.
During the meeting, Museveni reaffirmed his commitment to supporting regional and international efforts aimed at restoring peace in Sudan.
He stressed that the root cause of the conflict is the promotion of identity politics, which he argued destabilises a diverse country like Sudan.
Museveni called for an immediate ceasefire and urged the factions to transfer power to the people of Sudan, a move he believes would lead to lasting stability.
UN Envoy Lamamra, in response, assured President Museveni of the United Nations’ full support in mediating the conflict.
“Mr President, if there is anything the UN can do to assist in restoring peace to Sudan, please involve us. We are ready and willing to work with you,” Lamamra said.
Lamamra also drew attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan, stating that while efforts have been made to secure localised ceasefires, fighting continues, leaving civilians at severe risk.
“Despite the ongoing conflict and the flow of weapons to both sides, there is still an opportunity to move forward and secure a ceasefire to address the urgent humanitarian needs,” he added.
The meeting was attended by Uganda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Henry Okello Oryem, along with UN officials Nayla Hajjar and Hanan Elbadawy.
Sudan has been in a state of turmoil since April 2023 when hostilities erupted between two factions of the military government.
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are vying for control following the ousting of long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
What began as a power struggle between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the de facto leader of Sudan, and his former deputy, Hemedti, has evolved into a full-scale civil war, exacerbating the country’s already fragile political landscape.
The conflict has displaced millions, with widespread reports of human rights abuses and growing concerns over a humanitarian catastrophe.
Efforts by regional and international bodies to mediate peace have so far failed to yield significant progress, as both sides remain entrenched in their positions.
Museveni’s offer to mediate brings a new potential avenue for peace negotiations, though it remains to be seen whether both factions will accept external mediation.
