What's happened
The African Union Peace and Security Council has returned to Khartoum to press for a ceasefire, humanitarian access, and a Sudanese-led political process. The SAF has recaptured parts of Khartoum and central Sudan, while RSF remains entrenched in Darfur. Preparations for a broad national dialogue are underway with regional and civil society actors, amid ongoing fighting and shifting alliances.
What's behind the headline?
Key dynamics
- The AU’s comeback to Khartoum signals heightened mediation leverage but risks appearing aligned with Burhan’s government if it prioritizes talks with uniformed authorities over the RSF and civilian groups.
- A broad national dialogue could bridge civilian governance hopes with the military’s security concerns, yet genuine inclusivity remains a hurdle amid competing factions.
- Kordofan and Darfur remain pivotal battlegrounds that could shape the pace and terms of any political settlement.
What to watch
- Whether the dialogue includes resistance committees, civil society, and independent figures without binding RSF participation.
- How negotiations address humanitarian access and protection amid ongoing hostilities.
- If international mediators broaden their monitoring role to ensure credible commitments.
How we got here
Sudan’s war since 2023 pits the army (SAF) against the RSF, with fighting intensifying around Khartoum and Darfur. The AU has repeatedly pushed for an inclusive, Sudanese-led political process and ceasefire, while regional actors seek to avoid a formal partition of the country.
Our analysis
The New Arab reports on AU delegation visits and calls for inclusive dialogue; Al Jazeera covers PSC’s dual focus on ceasefire and political process, with emphasis on battlefield realities. Arab News highlights Burhan’s push for a broad domestic dialogue and the exclusion of RSF-aligned groups. The Quintet’s mediation efforts are noted across outlets.
Go deeper
- What’s the timeline for the proposed national dialogue?
- Which groups are invited to participate and which are excluded?
- How might recent battlefield shifts influence negotiation leverage?
More on these topics
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Sudan - Country in North Africa
Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in North-East Africa. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, Libya to the northwest, Chad to the west, the Central African Republic to the southwest, South Sudan to the south, Ethiopia to the southe
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Omar al-Bashir - Former President of Sudan
Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir is a Sudanese politician who served as the seventh President of Sudan from 1989 to 2019, when he was deposed in a coup d'état. He was subsequently incarcerated, tried and convicted on multiple corruption charges.
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Khartoum - Capital of Sudan
Khartoum or Khartum is the capital of Sudan. With a population of 5,274,321, its metropolitan area is the largest in Sudan, the sixth-largest in Africa, the second-largest in North Africa, and the fourth-largest in the Arab world.
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Abdel Fattah al-Burhan - Chairman of the Transitional Military Council
Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman al-Burhan is a Sudanese politician and Sudanese Army general who is currently serving as Chairman of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan, the country's collective transitional head of state.
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African Union
The African Union is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the African Union.
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Darfur
Darfur is a region of western Sudan. Dār is an Arabic word meaning "home [of]" – the region was named Dardaju while ruled by the Daju, who migrated from Meroë c. 350 AD, and it was renamed Dartunjur when the Tunjur ruled the area.
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United Nations - Intergovernmental organization
The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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Kordofan - Geographic region of Sudan
Kordofan is a former province of central Sudan. In 1994 it was divided into three new federal states: North Kordofan, South Kordofan and West Kordofan.
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Jeddah - City in Saudi Arabia
Jeddah is the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia after Riyadh and the country’s main commercial center. Located in the Hejaz region along the Red Sea coast, it is the largest city in Mecca Province. The city’s metropolitan area is coterminous with Jeddah Governorate. With a population of 3,751,722, Jeddah is among the largest cities in the Middle East. The city extends for about 70 kilometers (43 mi) and is home to Jeddah Islamic Port, one of the busiest ports in the region. Its prominence grew in 647 CE when the Caliph Uthman designated it as the main port serving travelers to Mecca. With a population of about 3,812,058 people as of 2026, Jeddah is the largest city in Hejaz and the ninth-largest in the Middle East. It also serves as the administrative center of the OIC. Jeddah Islamic Port, on the Red Sea, is the thirty-sixth largest seaport in the world and the second-largest and second-busiest seaport in the Middle East (after Dubai's Port of Jebel Ali). Jeddah is the principal gateway to Mecca Sharif, the holiest city in Islam, 65 kilometers (40 mi) to the east, while Medina, the second-holiest city, is 360 kilometers (220 mi) to the north. Economically, Jeddah is focusing on further...