Intergovernmental Authority on Development(IGAD) announced that Sudan has returned to the regional bloc, two-years after it suspended membership.
In a statement issued Today, February 9, 2026, IGAD Secretariat welcomed the decision by army-led government of Sudan to rejoin the bloc. IGAD said its Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu described the return as “reaffirmation of regional solidarity and collective commitment to peace, stability, and cooperation across the region.”
In 2024, Sudan announced it had freezed its relation with bloc accusing it of violating its sovereignty by inviting the Rapid Support Forces(RSF) leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo to a peace talks in Uganda. And a year later, Eritrea announced its withdrawal from the bloc, which it said was used as a tool to attack “targeted member states” and failed regional aspirations.
Workneh commneded Djiboutian President Ismael Omar Guelleh, who is currently Chairperson of IGAD for his constructive role in bringing back Sudan, and the commitment to dialogue.
IGAD also expressed its readiness to work with Sudan in advancing a peaceful resolution to a civil war that is nearing three years.
The civil war, which was strated in April 2023, after the fallout between to erstwhile generals descended the country to the World’s worst humanitarian crisis. Tens of thousands were killed, while millions forced to fled their villages, and cities to where fortune took.
