New African Envoy to Sudan
moatinoon
The Governmental Authority for Development, IGAD, has announced the appointment of Lawrence Korbandy from South Sudan as a special envoy to Sudan, committing to supporting peaceful initiatives aimed at enhancing regional stability and cooperation.
In a statement on Wednesday, the IGAD Secretary-General, Workneh Gebeyehu, appointed Lawrence Korbandy from South Sudan as a special envoy to Sudan, based on the decisions of the forty-first extraordinary summit of IGAD and in consultation with the chairman of the authority, the President of Djibouti. This appointment aims to play "a pivotal role in goodwill efforts, active participation, facilitating dialogue, and finding common ground in the Sudan crisis, and providing advice on the way forward."
In recent months, there have been multiple appointments of special envoys and other mechanisms for Sudan in an attempt to pressure the warring parties to halt the war. The Secretary-General of the United Nations appointed the Algerian diplomat Ramtane Lamamra as his personal envoy to Sudan last November. In January, the African Union appointed a high-level mechanism consisting of three African personalities: Mohamed Ben Chambas as chairperson, and the members Spesiosa Wandira Kazibwe, former Vice President of Uganda, and Francisco Madeira, former Special Representative of the Chairperson to Somalia, to contribute to resolving the Sudanese crisis. In February, the U.S. Department of State appointed Tom Yerilo as a special envoy to Sudan, who began his duties with a wide-ranging tour of several countries regarding Sudan.
The IGAD stated that Lawrence Korbandys appointment as a special envoy to the Republic of Sudan reaffirms IGADs commitment to addressing the Sudan crisis through diplomatic channels. The new envoy possesses the essential qualities to enhance dialogue and seek solutions, and his extensive experience qualifies him for the responsibilities entrusted to him.
The IGAD further explained that Korbandy has two decades of experience in governance, international relations, and diplomacy, with knowledge of the African Horn, the wider IGAD region, and the Middle East. Additionally, he has a deep understanding of the work of international and regional organizations, having previously held government positions in South Sudan, including serving as a legal advisor to the President of South Sudan.
