Sudanese pro-army factions condition AU talks on rival’s exclusion

September 23, 2025 (ADDIS ABABA) – Political forces allied with the Sudanese army presented a set of conditions to the African Union (AU) on Tuesday for their participation in peace talks scheduled for October, demanding the exclusion of the rival “Tasis” coalition.

The pro-army bloc, in a joint statement, threatened to boycott any dialogue attended by the Tasis administration, noting it is not recognized by the UN Security Council, the AU Peace and Security Council, or the Arab League.

“The participation of representatives of the planned government in dialogues organized by the three organizations is a violation of their principled positions,” the statement said.

The Tasis coalition has established a parallel government in areas under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The pro-army groups, which include the Democratic Bloc and the National Movement forces, also criticized the AU’s invitation for lacking clarity on the dialogue’s agenda, funding, participants, and the role of mediators.

They insisted the process must be “nationally owned and driven by Sudanese will” and should build upon the outcomes of previous consultations in July 2024 and February 2025, rather than establishing a new track.

The statement said the top priority must be the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2736, which demands the RSF end its months-long siege of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. Addressing the dire humanitarian situations in Kadugli, Dilling, and Babanusa was also cited as a key priority.

According to press reports, a separate civilian coalition, “Samoud,” objected to including forces allied with the former regime in the talks and called for their postponement until a preparatory committee could be formed.

The RSF has besieged El Fasher since April 2024. The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, is reportedly participating in the siege of Kadugli and Dilling.