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April 12, 2026 (ADDIS ABABA) – A five-person group monitoring the civilian aspect of the Berlin conference announced on Sunday that the situation in Sudan has gone beyond its national boundaries and turned into an international issue, impacting the global community, especially concerning international humanitarian law.

The group consisting of the African Union, United Nations, European Union, Arab League, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is striving to achieve a solution for the continuous conflict between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The IGAD representative for Sudan, Lawrence Korbandy, stated to Sudan Tribune that the Berlin conference is occurring while the global community is focused on conflicts in the Gulf, Iran, and Israel. This has led to the Sudan crisis being overlooked, even though it remains the main conflict in Africa, with adverse effects on the continent and the world.

Korbandy highlighted that the Berlin conference is one of several international gatherings focused on addressing the humanitarian conditions and rallying political backing for the main objective of reducing tensions.

The Sudanese government has its own motivations for not taking part, which we are unable to discuss,” Korbandy stated. “Nevertheless, as the crisis has become global and impacts the world, particularly in terms of humanitarian issues, the conference’s primary focus will be on how mobilizing assistance can help reduce tensions as the disaster worsens.

He pointed out that humanitarian efforts cannot be completely detached from politics, since war is fundamentally political in nature. He emphasized the importance of developing a method to reduce “extreme politicization” that keeps the conflict going.

The representative pointed out that a gathering took place in Addis Ababa before the Berlin conference to address the humanitarian agenda and the route to ending the conflict. He urged the consolidation of different efforts, cautioning that scattered actions lead to wasted time in a nation experiencing daily military activities and severe consequences for civilians.

Korbandy stated that the crisis needs to be settled from within. “If the people inside aren’t interested in addressing their issues, what can those outside accomplish?” he questioned, encouraging Sudanese groups to focus on the country’s interests and international players to put aside short-term goals.

He stated that the IGAD office in Khartoum is set to restart its activities soon. He stood by the organization amid claims of partiality, emphasizing that IGAD serves as a fair and impartial mediator with a proven track record in resolving disputes.

The IGAD office in Khartoum will resume operations soon,” Korbandy said. “It should be clear that IGAD did not suspend Sudan’s membership; Sudan suspended its own membership and has recently rejoined.

In response to reports about an possible global effort to establish “safe corridors” or independent oversight systems, Korbandy stated that it is too early to tell, but highlighted that the international community has a legal duty to provide assistance to those impacted if the involved parties continue to resist.

The envoy also indicated that the 2022 Framework Agreement is no longer relevant due to recent developments. He cautioned that the ongoing conflict might result in the division or complete breakdown of the state, leading to “multiple banana republics,” a situation he stated IGAD and the Sudanese population strongly reject.

Korbandy ended by saying that the organization deals with all civilian groups in the same way, urging them to come together to avoid social and political fragmentation.