Sudan’s army chief holds unannounced talks on national dialogue
Khartoum, Sudan – Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has held unannounced consultations with political and civil society groups and figures, resulting in agreement on
Khartoum, Sudan – Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has held unannounced consultations with political and civil society groups and figures, resulting in agreement on steps to create the conditions for a Sudanese dialogue conference, political sources aware of the discussions have told Al Jazeera. The consultations include proposals to drop charges punishable by death against opposition leaders and to form a preparatory committee for the proposed conference. The political sources, who requested anonymity, said the consultations focused on the need for a comprehensive Sudanese conference involving key political players. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been at war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023. Those involved in the consultations have largely agreed on the need for practical steps to create a climate conducive to dialogue, including an end to media campaigns against political opponents. According to the same sources, a majority of those taking part have agreed on practical steps to create a climate conducive to dialogue, including halting negative media campaigns and suspending criminal charges carrying the death penalty against dozens of opponents of the army-led Transitional Sovereignty Council – primarily members of the Somoud Alliance, a political grouping led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. The charges against Hamdok and other political figures tied to Somoud include war crimes, inciting war against the state, and undermining the constitution. Somoud has been accused of supporting the RSF, but has always denied such claims. No preconditions Participants in the consultations have agreed on the need to select a preparatory committee for the dialogue conference, made up of independent, widely accepted figures with specialised expertise.
The committee would determine who takes part, the agenda, and the venue and date of the conference, as well as invite international and regional parties to monitor it, according to the political sources. Hatem al-Sir, adviser to the head of the Democratic Unionist Party-Original, said Khartoum is witnessing intensive political activity and ongoing consultations in preparation for an intra-Sudanese dialogue, with the support of regional forces. In a post on X, he said al-Burhan had held meetings with leaders of political blocs, chiefs of native administration, Sufi order leaders, independent national figures, academics, professionals and resistance committees. The meetings focused on strengthening national consensus and reaching an agreed national project. The Quintet – made up of the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Arab League – has also been attempting to secure an agreement among Sudan’s competing political blocs on the structure of a proposed national dialogue, but has so far struggled. Its latest round of discussions, which began in Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa on July 29, failed to bridge differences among Sudanese parties over arrangements for the conference. Several political groups, including Somoud, did not attend the meetings. A cosmetic process Babiker Faisal, a leader in the Somoud alliance, accused the Quintet of retreating from understandings that had previously been reached over arrangements for the political process. Faisal described the Quintet as “no longer a neutral umbrella” for sponsoring dialogue, saying that it had strayed from the principle of Sudanese ownership of the political process.
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