Sudanese Opposition Rejects Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's Dialogue Initiative

Sudanese political and civil forces meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, have rejected a "Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue" initiative proposed by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the Sovereignty Council President and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces. The opposition groups, including the Umma Party, the Sumoud Coalition, and the Popular Congress Party, declared they will neither participate in the process nor recognize its outcomes.

Participants argued that no credible political process is possible while active fighting continues and noted that the exclusion of the Rapid Support Forces makes the initiative ineffective. The coalition characterized the proposal as a unilateral political maneuver intended to consolidate military authority and legitimize al-Burhan's position following the 2021 military coup.

In response, the groups adopted a joint position paper titled "The Peace Process We Want," which advocates for an independent, civilian-led political process. This alternative roadmap consists of three parallel tracks: urgent humanitarian assistance, a permanent ceasefire, and a political process free from the dominance of warring parties. The opposition further endorsed the September 2025 Quartet Roadmap as the primary framework for ending the war. Former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok stated that a credible peace process is impossible without an end to the hostilities.