The upcoming rounds of the Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue consultations, initially scheduled to take place from July 27 to 29, have been officially postponed until September. The high-stakes diplomatic process is sponsored by the five-party mechanism, which comprises the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), the League of Arab States, the European Union (EU), and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
According to sources close to the dialogue process, the definitive choice to reschedule was reached following comprehensive evaluations by the international mechanism and key domestic stakeholders. The primary objective of pushing the timeline back is to allow adequate breathing room for the inclusion of a much broader and more diverse spectrum of political and community groups.
Organizers particularly emphasized the necessity of incorporating expanded representation for women’s organizations and youth representatives, who form the bedrock of civil society impact amidst the ongoing national crisis.
Under previous logistical arrangements, participation structures were restricted, permitting only a very limited number of designated representatives from various civil and political sectors. Feedback gathered during recent preliminary discussions indicated that these previously slotted participants had effectively monopolized sector representation.
Furthermore, concerns were raised that these delegates functioned primarily as narrow voices for the Somoud (Resilience) Coalition rather than reflecting the wider independent populace.
During recent preparatory interactions between the five-party member organizations and principal stakeholders, participating factions explicitly requested the timeline adjustment. They argued that rushing the late-July timeline would undermine the credibility of the outcomes. Instead, a postponement was deemed essential to reclassify invited participants from various regional and civic sectors, ensuring that no single faction could dominate or gatekeep the deliberations.
Stakeholders underscored the reality that Sudan possesses a vibrant, active civil society network and diverse political forces operating both inside and outside the country that rightfully deserve a seat at the table. Many grassroots organizations and independent political actors had previously felt sidelined by restricted invitation frameworks.
The forthcoming round of consultations, set to be hosted in Addis Ababa, will consequently feature a restructured attendee list. By integrating newly recognized political movements and independent civil society actors alongside regular participants, the revised framework seeks to correct historical imbalances.
