By William Madouk
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has named Lawrence Korbandy of South Sudan as the blog’s special envoy for war-ravaged Sudan.
The appointment of Korbandy as the IGAD Special Envoy for Sudan is seen as part of IGAD’s effort and commitment to addressing the conflict in Sudan through diplomatic channels.
Following the 41st extraordinary summit of IGAD in Djibouti, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, the IGAD Executive Secretary, appointed Korbandy as its ambassador to Sudan.
“The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, announces the appointment of Hon. Lawrence Korbandy of South Sudan as the IGAD Special Envoy for the Republic of Sudan,” IGAD said in a Tuesday statement.
“Dr. Workneh has tasked Hon. Korbandy with a pivotal good office role, charging him with the responsibility to actively engage, facilitate dialogue, and seek common ground in the Sudan crisis, providing counsel on the path forward,” it added,
Lawrence Korbandy, a renowned South Sudanese lawyer, brings two decades of expertise in governance, international relations, and diplomacy to the new role.
His eminent career spans holding key governmental positions in South Sudan, including serving as the legal advisor to South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit and contributing to various governance and legal committees within the government.
With a background as a seasoned legal practitioner and diplomat, Korbandy possesses extensive knowledge of the Horn of Africa, the wider IGAD region, and the Middle East, as well as a deep understanding of the workings of international and regional organizations.
“Hon. Korbandy embodies the qualities essential for promoting dialogue and seeking resolutions, including in his own country. His extensive experience and diplomatic acumen equip him impeccably for the responsibilities entrusted to him,” said Dr. Workneh.
In January, the ruling military general in Sudan suspended the country’s membership in the East and Horn of Africa regional bloc IGAD, which tried to broker peace talks between the warring parties.
The Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been fighting since mid-April last year, following tensions over plans for a new political transition.
The conflict in Sudan has driven nearly 8.5 million people from their homes, creating the world’s biggest displacement crisis, pushed parts of the 49-million population close to famine, and triggering waves of ethnically driven killings and sexual violence in the western region of Darfur.
The Sudanese army, which has recently regained some ground in the capital, Khartoum, shunned an appeal from the U.N. Security Council for a ceasefire during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Saudi Arabia and the United States led talks in Jeddah last year to try to reach a truce between the two warring parties, but the negotiations faltered.