The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has called on the warring parties in Sudan to stop the war going on in the country.

IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu described the war as ‘senseless’ as he implored on all member heads of state to weigh in the matter and call the war to a stop.

“This is a senseless war, it is a war of a brother against a brother. I join my voice to call for a stop and ask IGAD member heads of state to call for the warring parties to stop,” said Gebeyehu.

Gebeyehu was speaking in Mombasa Friday afternoon after witnessing the launch of the IGAD National Human Rights Institutions Network.

He said that a series of conflicts charactarised by devastating repercussions including loss of lives, gender based violence, displacement and the suffering of civilians in various forms is weakening the socio-economic fabric of member states.

He described Sudan as once a generous host of immigrants saying it was once a home for those who were running away from home.

“Sudanese as you all know, are people of good heart, that is why the current devastation in the country is a crisis beyond one country. It is a suffering of a region, it is a horror of the region at large,” Gebeyehu said.

Gebeyehu described the launch of the NHRI network as a momentous occasion marking a significant milestone in the regional body’s collective efforts to promote good governance, the rule of law through defending human rights in the region.

The advancement of the platform he said will serve as a vital stage for sharing experiences, exchanging knowledge and collectively advocating for the advancement of human rights in the region.

Addressing the media on behalf of the network, Professor Mariam Mutungi, a commissioner of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said that the launch of the network is a new dawn in the realization of human rights in the IGAD region.

The network, she said, shall also be a platform for joint communication on human rights issues within the region.

“We note and condemn the human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law being perpetuated with the vulnerable groups including women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly persons bearing the brunt of the war.”

“The network calls upon all actors in the Sudan conflict to desist from violence and instead embrace dialogue as a model of achieving sustainable solutions,” said Prof Mutungi.

She added that the network commits to strengthening the early warning and prevention mechanism and timely address of human rights violation in the region.

“We stand with the people of Sudan and their aspiration for a peaceful nation where human rights are respected, and dignity is upheld. We also support the efforts of the IGAD quadrilateral mechanism in seeking to resolve the conflict,” she said.