Sudanese civil figures launch push to host internal peace talks
August 30, 2026 (KHARTOUM) — A newly formed coalition of prominent Sudanese civil figures launched an initiative on Sunday to lay the groundwork for an internal national dialogue aimed at ending the country’s ongoing war.
The move follows an announcement on Aug. 14 by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Transitional Sovereign Council and army chief, approving a domestic framework to facilitate talks and offering to provide legal and security guarantees.
Speaking at a news conference in Khartoum, organizers said the group would operate independently to rebuild trust among political, civil, and community leaders before formal intra-Sudanese negotiations can take place inside the country.
The panel includes, among others, prominent constitutional lawyer Nabil Adib, Ahfad University President Gasim Badri, writer Mohamed Jalal Hashim, and Al-Tayyar newspaper editor-in-chief Osman Mirghani.
Organizers called on all factions to open preliminary talks to define the framework, representation criteria, and core security safeguards required for a credible process.
They said national consensus was the only route out of the crisis, arguing that progress requires gradual trust-building rather than imposing a predetermined structure.
Key groups, including the Somoud Coalition, the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur, and Mubarak al-Fadil’s Umma Party faction, have rejected Burhan’s initiative, warning that internal talks under current conditions could cement military control.
Those groups have insisted on excluding the Islamic Movement and its affiliates from the process. By contrast, the Democratic Bloc alliance advocates for broad participation, excluding only forces allied with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces unless they cut ties and condemn violations.
The initiative demanded that Burhan’s initial pledges be converted into binding, verifiable written guarantees, including the suspension of legal proceedings against prospective delegates.
Organizers specifically sought temporary procedural immunity for all participants, protecting them from arrest or prosecution from the time they enter Sudan until their departure.
They also urged authorities to safeguard public freedoms and ensure state institutions do not interfere with the agenda or influence the outcome of the talks.
The public prosecution has previously filed capital charges against dozens of civilian politicians and journalists, including former prime minister and Somoud leader Abdalla Hamdok, who was ousted in the October 2021 military takeover.
Panel member Osman Mirghani said setting a rigid agenda or timeline at this stage would be premature, adding that the group will consult domestic and international stakeholders before finalizing structural details.
Badri said the initiative remains non-partisan and aims to de-escalate the conflict, restore institutional stability, and secure the necessary environment for a negotiated settlement.