Sudanese anti-war forces reject al-Burhan's dialogue initiative

Anti-war Sudanese political forces held a two-day consultative meeting in Addis Ababa on August 22-23, 2026, to discuss the country's ongoing conflict and potential paths to peace. Participants included the Umma Party, the Sudanese National Congress Party, the 'Sumoud' alliance led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, and various civil society, women's, and youth networks.

The meeting addressed the worsening humanitarian catastrophe, the protection of civilians, and the effectiveness of international mediation efforts. A central point of discussion was the 'Sudanese Dialogue' initiative proposed by Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, which suggests an independent mechanism for inclusive national dialogue.

However, the participating anti-war groups issued a joint statement rejecting al-Burhan's call for dialogue. They characterized the proposal as a “misleading dialogue” rather than a genuine peace process. The groups argued that a real peace process must follow established frameworks, including humanitarian ceasefires, transitional security and political arrangements, and a sustainable permanent ceasefire based on equitable negotiations.