KHARTOUM – The African Union Commission welcomed the launch of a Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue initiative inside Sudan, saying it supports efforts to end the armed conflict and build a comprehensive, Sudanese-led political process.
In a statement, the commission said the initiative, facilitated by an independent committee of Sudanese public figures, could help create conditions for dialogue among Sudanese political, civil and community actors.
The African Union said its leadership has worked since the outbreak of Sudan’s crisis in April 2023 to bring Sudanese parties closer together, support efforts to end the war and promote a national vision based on dialogue.
The commission reaffirmed its call to preserve Sudan’s unity and national institutions while supporting the country’s transition toward a democratic state.
It stressed that consultations should include different Sudanese civil, political and social forces, based on the principles of inclusivity, national ownership and genuine Sudanese leadership of the political process.
The AU said the ultimate goal should be a united and sovereign Sudan at peace, governed by legitimate civilian institutions, with a unified national security system and effective mechanisms to resolve political and social disputes through peaceful means.
The commission said the initiative strengthens the African Union roadmap and the track of the Quint Mechanism, within what it described as a coherent strategy led by Sudanese actors.
The AU’s position comes as Sudanese political forces remain divided over the proposed internal dialogue. Supporters say it could provide a Sudanese-owned path to end the war, while critics argue that any dialogue held inside areas controlled by one side of the conflict risks legitimizing the realities created by war unless preceded by a ceasefire and humanitarian guarantees.
The Sudanese-Sudanese Dialogue Committee announced in Khartoum on Sunday that it had named Qasim Badri as its chairman. The committee said its current role is to prepare the climate for dialogue, build confidence and hold preliminary consultations with political, civil and community forces over the conditions and guarantees required for a broad national process.
The initiative followed a call by Sovereign Council Chairman and army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan for an internal Sudanese dialogue, with political, legal and security guarantees for participants. Al-Burhan said the state would provide logistical support but would not determine the dialogue’s agenda or outcomes.
Anti-war political and civil forces meeting recently in Addis Ababa rejected Al-Burhan’s proposed framework, saying Sudan needs a genuine peace process linked to humanitarian access, a cessation of hostilities and a civilian-led political track.
Sudan’s war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has devastated the country, displaced millions and fragmented the political landscape. The dispute over the dialogue initiative reflects wider disagreements over who should lead any peace process, where it should be held and whether armed actors should participate in political negotiations.
