Western circles object to Quintet mechanism on Sudan crisis, sources say

August 2, 2026 (ADDIS ABABA) – Western circles expressed objections to the Quintet mechanism’s approach to resolving the Sudanese crisis, diplomatic sources told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

Sudanese civil forces, led by the Somoud and Tasees coalitions along with political parties and civil society organizations, refused to participate in meetings convened by the mechanism in Addis Ababa earlier this month.

Sources said an attempt by parties within the mechanism to impose a vision and include political groups whose participation was previously rejected drew objections from Western circles.

The mechanism is leading intensive contacts with boycotting parties to change their position and set a date for the meetings, but those efforts have achieved no progress so far, mechanism sources told Sudan Tribune.

Somoud Coalition head Abdalla Hamdok said during a meeting with the group’s external action bureau on Saturday that the coalition’s final stance is to boycott the meetings after the mechanism ignored its previous observations.

Sources told Sudan Tribune that Hamdok sharply criticized the mechanism during the meeting over attempts by internal parties to impose a specific vision for the Sudanese dialogue and force certain groups into the talks.

Hamdok stressed that the coalition supports dialogue, but not in the manner of the mechanism, which serves merely as a facilitator, sources added.

The Somoud coalition said in a statement seen by Sudan Tribune that the meeting reviewed political developments and the group’s vision to end the war.

Hamdok emphasized that stopping the war represents the national priority and building the broadest civil democratic front remains necessary to achieve peace and restore the transition to civilian rule, according to the statement.

Attendees discussed expanding Somoud centres abroad to mobilize regional and international support, enhance the role of Sudanese overseas, and help alleviate humanitarian suffering, particularly in displacement and refugee areas.

Participants emphasized the importance of leveraging the expertise of Sudanese living abroad and coordinating civil initiatives to support those affected by the war.