Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as "Hemedti," embarked on his first known public foreign trip since the outbreak of war on April 15. Hemedti's visit to Ethiopia sought to facilitate discussions on the resolution of the conflict between the RSF and Sudan's army.

Arriving in Addis Ababa on Thursday, Hemedti engaged in talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who emphasized the objective of securing peace and stability in Sudan. In photographs shared by Ahmed, the RSF leader and his delegation were seen seated around a restaurant table, discussing the need to swiftly end the war and alleviate the hardships faced by the Sudanese people.

Prior to his visit to Ethiopia, Hemedti met with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at the latter's country home. The Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen, welcomed Hemedti upon his arrival at Addis Ababa's airport.

Efforts to establish a peaceful resolution to the conflict, facilitated by the United States and Saudi Arabia, have so far proven unsuccessful. With a death toll exceeding 12,000 and more than seven million forced to flee their homes, ending the war remains a pressing concern. Recently, Human Rights Watch accused the RSF of perpetrating mass ethnic killings in Darfur.

Social media posts shared by Hemedti and Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that the RSF leader, along with his delegation, arrived in Ethiopia on a Royal Jet aircraft originating from Abu Dhabi. The aircraft had made a stopover at Uganda's Entebbe airport.

According to an undisclosed source, Hemedti intends to visit Nairobi to garner support from member states of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) before meeting with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of Sudan's armed forces, in Djibouti. IGAD, comprising eight East African countries, has been actively involved in trying to bring together al-Burhan and Hemedti since the beginning of the war.

Both sides involved in Sudan's war have faced accusations of war crimes, heightening the urgency for a resolution and accountability for the victims.

As the RSF leader continues his diplomatic efforts across East Africa, the international community watches closely, hoping for tangible progress towards a cessation of hostilities and a lasting peace in Sudan.