Sudan’s SPLM-RDC rejects Burhan’s dialogue initiative, warns against legitimising Sudan war
August 16, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-Revolutionary Democratic Current (SPLM-RDC), led by Yasir Arman, on Sunday dismissed army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s call for national dialogue, warning that political talks amid ongoing hostilities would entrench and legitimise the conflict rather than deliver sustainable peace.
In a formal response to Burhan’s address, the movement argued that a unilateral dialogue initiative proposed without a ceasefire or measures to address the humanitarian catastrophe lacks both political value and practical viability.
The SPLM-RDC strongly objected to the planned preparatory committee, asserting that one belligerent party and its allies cannot unilaterally determine its composition. It called for any political transition to rest on inclusive participation by anti-war forces and communities directly affected by the conflict.
The movement cautioned that the proposed framework aims to confer political legitimacy on the warring parties, risking a path that bypasses genuine peace and embeds armed faction leaders into governance based on military leverage.
A sustainable resolution, the group noted, requires tackling the structural root causes of the crisis, including state-building challenges, national unity, militia proliferation, state capture, and the continued dismantling of the National Congress Party’s legacy.
The statement further faulted Burhan’s address for offering no clear strategy to resolve the issue of parallel armed forces and militias, warning that maintaining this status quo remains a primary driver of instability and risks drawing the military into protracted conflict.
Pointing to the likely inclusion of Islamists in the proposed Khartoum talks, the SPLM-RDF warned that engaging the Islamic Movement would merely repeat failed past initiatives, drawing parallels to the “National Dialogue” (Wathba) conducted under former President Omer al-Bashir.
The faction described Burhan’s proposal as nothing more than the army leadership’s negotiating stance and that of its allies, demanding direct negotiations between the military and anti-war forces at a mutually agreed-upon neutral venue to halt hostilities.
Rejecting the army chief’s preconditions for anti-war groups, the movement reaffirmed its commitment to a single professional national military representing Sudan’s diversity, alongside a democratic civilian state grounded in equal citizenship.
The statement called for broadening the anti-war coalition, emphasising that alliances such as “Sumood” and the “Declaration of Principles” signatories must serve as frameworks for state reconstruction rather than vehicles for political bargaining.
It also cautioned against using diplomatic engagement through the Quintet and Quad mechanisms to stall for time, noting that the initial Addis Ababa gathering failed to deliver a viable political pathway or a cessation of hostilities.
The SPLM-RDC urged a restructuring of international mediation efforts to guarantee substantive representation for conflict-affected populations, insisting that accountability for violations and civilian reparations remain central to any political agenda.
Warning of growing external involvement since fighting erupted in April 2023, the movement cautioned that rising escalation indicators could internationalise the crisis further, risking regional spillover across the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, and the Red Sea corridor.
The movement concluded that regional expansion risks driving Sudan into a prolonged crisis similar to Yemen and Syria, deepening civilian suffering while threatening the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and resources.