Sudan’s army chief holds unannounced talks on national dialogue

What Happened

Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan held undisclosed consultations with political and civil society groups, political sources told Al Jazeera. The talks yielded agreement on measures to enable a comprehensive Sudanese dialogue conference, including proposals to drop death-penalty charges against opposition leaders—primarily members of the Somoud Alliance, led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok—and to form an independent preparatory committee to set the agenda, participants, venue, and date. The sources said participants largely backed practical steps such as halting negative media campaigns and suspending capital charges for war crimes, incitement, and undermining the constitution. Hatem al-Sir, adviser to the head of the Democratic Unionist Party-Original, confirmed intensive political activity in Khartoum and said al-Burhan met with political blocs, native administration chiefs, Sufi leaders, academics, professionals, and resistance committees to build consensus. However, Babiker Faisal of the Somoud Alliance accused the army leadership of seeking a 'cosmetic political process' to bolster its legitimacy and form loyal governing institutions, while also criticising the Quintet—made up of the UN, AU, EU, IGAD, and Arab League—for abandoning neutral mediation. The Quintet separately reaffirmed its commitment to a Sudanese-led settlement and pledged continued consultations with civilian stakeholders.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Al-Burhan’s outreach signals a possible SAF effort to gain domestic and international legitimacy by convening a political process outside the existing mediation frameworks, while the war against the RSF grinds on. The proposal to drop death-penalty charges—including against Abdalla Hamdok—could be a concession to broaden participation, but the opposition’s rejection as 'cosmetic' and the Quintet’s struggle to unite factions underscore deep mistrust. Success or failure will shape whether a negotiated settlement remains viable or if the conflict further entrenches parallel power structures.

Watch For

Concrete next steps include the formation and composition of the preparatory committee, which will reveal how inclusive the process might be. Monitor the Quintet’s follow-up consultations after the failed Addis Ababa round, and whether the Somoud Alliance or other key civilian blocs engage or boycott. Also watch for reactions from the RSF, which is excluded from these talks, and any shifts in the military balance that could undermine or accelerate political moves.