Kalonzo Musyoka explains why Sudan conflict might take years to solve

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka. [File, Standard]

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, an envoy in peace talks that birthed Southern Sudan, has explained the genesis of the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

Kalonzo was responding to a question posed by a journalist working for International media during a sit-down with Azimio leaders on Tuesday morning.

According to Kalonzo, failure to honor written agreements is the main cause of the conflict [in Sudan] that has left more than three million people displaced.

He explains that two Generals of the army teamed up with the civilians to push out then-ruler Al Bashir. They made a written agreement, to hand over power back to the people after a year.

"The two Generals teamed up with the civilians to topple the then president Al Bashir but instead of handing over to the civilians after a year, as they had committed to do in writing, they refused. Remember Prime Minister Hamdock who was hounded out of office? And then the generals turned on each other and the result is catastrophic," Kalonzo explains to the members of the fourth estate.

"Apparently, even as they meet in Jida for talks, they are still fighting. General Burhan on one hand and General Dagalo on the other was supposed to be the vice chair of the council. Quite frankly it is a very difficult situation," Kalonzo adds.

According to Kalonzo, the conflict has left millions displaced and therefore, he urged members of the international community as well as leaders from the region to intervene.

"Sudan is a member of the [Inter-Governmental Authority on Development] IGAD and until recently I was an envoy to South Sudan. While we were busy dealing with the issue in South Sudan, trouble also erupted in the North. It is a matter of great concern not just to the region but internationally."

"I know that some in this part of the world wanted to intervene and then others said no, we think you are part of the problem. As a country, we are very concerned. That is why we insist that Kenya is seen to be the bastion of peace and harmony that is why we can't afford to let Kenya go down the drain because it is an anchor nation," Kalonzo says.

Reports indicate that Kalonzo played an important role in helping South Sudan consolidate the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

After the death of the founding president of South Sudan, John Garang, Kalonzo managed to pressurise groups in the South to set aside their differences and solidly back the Sudan People's Liberation Movement leadership.

He achieved this with the help of the late former President Daniel Moi.

In early July, IGAD proposed an initiative that would include the deployment of peacekeepers in the capital Khartoum. The Sudanese army has on many occasions opposed the Kenyan-led initiative, accusing the regional power of supporting the RSF.

"Leave the East African forces where they are. Bring the Kenyan army ... I swear to god, not one of them would make it back," said Sudanese General Yassir al-Atta in comments to troops.

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan's military ruler and head of the army, and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, popularly known as Hemedti, the country's deputy and head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, shared power since carrying out a coup in 2021.