Sudan: The Quintet Expected in Khartoum for Three Days of Consultations

The mission, scheduled until September 10, brings together the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Arab League, the European Union, and the United Nations. Its representatives are to gather assessments from Sudanese parties on the situation and compare these analyses with the work already carried out by the group.

The Quintet says it wants to promote an inclusive political process leading to a democratic civilian government. It is working in parallel with the “Quad” formed by the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates to coordinate diplomatic initiatives around the conflict.

The visit takes place while the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, is already in Khartoum. He is scheduled to join the other members of the Quintet on September 8 for discussions focused on the political landscape and proposals aimed at advancing inter-Sudanese dialogue.

A still contested civil process

An independent Sudanese committee tasked with preparing a national dialogue announced that it would meet with international envoys during their visit. Its leaders advocate for a process led by civilian and political forces, without entrusting the political negotiation to the two warring military bodies.

This approach is part of a sequence already underway in recent weeks concerning the preparations for the national dialogue. However, several civil groups have rejected certain initiatives, notably the dialogue proposed by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, highlighting the deep divisions over the format of a future transition.

The war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023 has caused massive displacement and has permanently fragmented the country. A recent UN investigative report also warned about the extent of external military support and the increasing use of drones, which continues to exacerbate the human cost of the conflict.