Sudan: Sudan Anti-War Forces Warn UN Envoy - Burhan's Dialogue Could Entrench Division and Legitimise Ruling Authorities

On Saturday, representatives from Sudan's Declaration of Principles forces held a meeting with UN Secretary-General's personal envoy Pekka Haavisto to discuss the political crisis and efforts to end the war. The delegation cautioned that any political process not starting with halting the fighting and safeguarding civilians risks deepening division and legitimizing the de facto authorities in power.

They expressed reservations about the proposed political dialogue led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, arguing that its framework could entrench the war's political and geographical consequences. The forces emphasized that launching a dialogue from within the conflict's core regions or through arrangements guaranteeing unilateral control over state entities would not offer a genuine solution to the crisis.

Instead, they stressed that the dialogue should be part of a comprehensive political process that initiates with ending the war, protecting civilians, and tackling the humanitarian crisis before restoring the unity of state institutions and ultimately establishing a unified, democratic civilian government. The delegation also briefed the UN envoy on the stance of civilian forces opposing the war and the outcomes of a consultative meeting in Addis Ababa.

The meeting revealed growing consensus among civilian and political forces on the essential elements for ending the war and creating a more inclusive political process. While the Declaration of Principles forces voiced reservations about the international Quintet's approach, they clarified that these objections did not imply rejection of engagement with the Quintet.

However, they underscored the necessity of reaching agreement on the nature of the political process, its participants, and its terms before proceeding, along with safeguards to ensure civilian decision-making's independence and prevent any single entity from monopolizing representation of the anti-war forces. The forces reiterated their commitment to cooperate with regional and international efforts to end the war, provided these initiatives lead to preserving Sudan's unity, preventing the entrenchment of de facto authorities, and paving the way for a sustainable democratic civilian transition.