Parties to the Sudan conflict were Monday implored to declare an unconditional ceasefire.
President William Ruto said Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Force must also agree to establish a humanitarian zone.
He said the move will stop the loss of lives, ease access to public services and facilitate a settlement of the conflict.
This, he pointed out, will lead to the resumption of the final phase of the political process.
“This will lay the foundation for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Sudan.”
He made the remarks on Monday in Addis Ababa during the IGAD Quartet Heads of State and Government meeting that focussed on the Sudan conflict.
Present were Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed, IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu, UN Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths, Djibouti Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and the representatives of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, European Union, among others.
Ruto, who also chairs the IGAD Quartet, termed the Sudan situation as dire with data indicating that over 2.9 million people have been displaced.
On the other hand, the death toll stands at more than 2,000 as the crisis exerts more pressure on neighbouring countries.
“The intensity and scale of the humanitarian crisis is a harrowing calamity,” he told the meeting.
In Darfur, Dr Ruto added, targeted inter-ethnic attacks were steadily spiralling towards the commission of genocide.
“This alarming state of affairs calls for a bold and all-inclusive peace dialogue.”
The chairman of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan did not participate.
Foreign Ministry spokesman cited Sudan’s rejection of the Kenyan chairmanship of the quartet group.
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While al-Burhan and the leader of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo “Hemetti,” were invited to the summit, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed that al-Burhan will not be attending.
The Sudanese diplomat reiterated Sudan’s rejection of Kenya’s chairmanship of the Crisis Resolution Committee, stating that Sudan believes President William Ruto’s close ties with RSF leaders and his associated economic interests make him an impartial party.
“It is natural for Burhan to decline the invitation to the summit. Sudan is not interested in any proposal from IGAD under Kenya’s chairmanship of the committee to address the crisis,” the spokesman emphasized.
On July 6, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud sought in vain to convince Burhan to change his mind about the Kenyan chairmanship of the quartet.
In accordance with the resolutions of the IGAD heads of state and government summit, the foreign affairs ministers of the Quartet group on June 19 decided to prioritize a face-to-face meeting to address key issues such as the cessation of hostilities and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Furthermore, the ministers agreed to convene an all-inclusive political process to achieve sustainable peace, a peaceful transition to democracy, and civilian rule.
The Republic of Kenya is expected to host this process in mid-July or the first week of August 2023.