Senior officials from east African countries have suggested a military deployment to Sudan where a three-month war is escalating.
Meeting in Ethiopia, the regional body Igad said sending in an East African stand-by force could help protect civilians and guarantee humanitarian access.
Given how intense the fighting is right now and the general lawlessness, it seems doubtful that any troops would be sent in soon.
An international presence is also likely to be opposed by the two sides fighting the war.
The meeting was meant to see face to face talks between the Sudanese army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
However an Igad statement said it was regrettable that the army delegation chose not to attend.
The Sudanese military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has accused Kenya – the regional body’s chair – of failing to be neutral and supporting the RSF.