Sudan’s army chief holds unannounced talks on national dialogue

What the report says

Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has held unannounced consultations with political and civil society figures as part of efforts to prepare a wider national dialogue, according to political sources cited by Al Jazeera. The talks, reported from Khartoum, focused on creating conditions for a Sudanese dialogue conference after more than three years of war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023.

The sources said participants discussed practical steps to reduce tensions and build trust, including ending media attacks on political opponents, suspending criminal cases carrying possible death sentences against some anti-army figures, and setting up a preparatory committee for the proposed conference. That committee would be expected to decide who attends, what the agenda should be, and where and when the meeting might take place. The article said the discussions have involved political blocs, traditional leaders, Sufi figures, academics, professionals and resistance committees.

The effort comes alongside broader regional and international attempts to push Sudan toward a political process. Al Jazeera reported that the so-called Quintet — the UN, African Union, European Union, IGAD and Arab League — has been trying to narrow divisions among Sudanese parties but has not yet secured agreement on the structure of the dialogue.

The report also noted criticism from figures in the Somoud alliance, who argue that the process could favor army-backed actors, while leaders of the National Congress Party objected to being excluded from any future talks. More broadly, the talks appear aimed at shaping a Sudanese-led path toward political settlement, though major gaps remain over inclusion, legitimacy and the role of groups linked to the conflict.