Sudan: Informal Interactive Dialogue
Tomorrow morning (14 September), Security Council members will hold an informal interactive dialogue (IID) on the situation in Sudan, titled “From Principles to Practice: translating international mediation commitments into a coherent, civilian-led path to peace”. The meeting is being organised by Denmark and the UK (the penholder on the Sudan file). The expected briefers are the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto; the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) High-Level Panel on Sudan, Mohamed Ibn Chambas; the Special Representative of the European Union (EU) for the Horn of Africa, Annette Weber; the Director of the Horn of Africa and Sudan Department at the League of Arab States (LAS), Zeid Al Sabban; and the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Workneh Gebeyehu.
Tomorrow’s meeting builds on the 16 December 2025 IID, which was also organised by Denmark and the UK and aimed at strengthening coordination among regional and international actors, facilitating direct communication between mediators, and exploring concrete actions that the Council could take to support ongoing peace initiatives in a concerted way. (For more information, see our 16 December 2025 What’s in Blue story.)
Since the onset of the conflict in Sudan on 15 April 2023, multiple regional and international actors have pursued diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the fighting and advancing a political process, although these efforts have yet to produce a significant breakthrough. The multiplicity of mediation initiatives has also underscored the importance of greater coordination and coherence among the various actors involved. More recently, the Quintet group—comprising the AU, the EU, IGAD, LAS, and the UN—has stepped up efforts to advance dialogue towards a political process and an eventual transition to a democratic, civilian-led government.
The concept note circulated by the co-organisers apparently says that the IID will provide a platform for exchange among key mediators, regional actors, and Council members. It is intended to take stock of recent diplomatic efforts and consider how shared commitments can be translated into practical next steps. The meeting will also consider how the Council can support the Quintet’s role as a bridge among the various stakeholders, including through confidence-building measures; how external interference, arms flows, and proxy dynamics can be addressed, including through existing tools such as the Security Council arms embargo on Darfur; and what additional Council action could meaningfully support the political track in the short and medium term, including through more regular reporting.
It seems that the concept note identifies external interference as a major impediment to efforts to promote peace in Sudan. It apparently says that support from external actors, driven by strategic interests that may not favour a negotiated settlement, has enabled the parties to continue pursuing military objectives. The concept note argues that a meaningful political process will be difficult to advance unless these external enabling factors are addressed, including through enforcement and accountability measures.
Amid reports indicating that numerous external actors are supplying the warring parties with weapons and facilitating the flow of mercenaries, and as violence has spread across the country, several member states and civil society organisations have advocated expanding the geographical scope of the 1591 Sudan sanctions regime beyond Darfur to encompass the entire country. (Since its inception in 2004, the regime has remained geographically limited to Darfur.) The issue has resurfaced repeatedly in the Council in recent years, most recently in the ongoing discussions on the renewal of the Sudan sanctions measures. After several weeks of difficult negotiations, Council members were unable to agree on a draft resolution proposed by the US (the penholder on Sudan sanctions) that would have expanded the arms embargo across Sudan. Consequently, on 11 September, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2828, extending the measures for one month, until 9 October, to allow additional time for negotiations. (For more information, see our 10 September What’s in Blue story.)
At tomorrow’s meeting, the briefers are likely to describe their recent engagements and activities aimed at identifying avenues for de-escalation, facilitating humanitarian access, advancing an inclusive political dialogue, and securing a sustainable ceasefire.
On 4 September, Haavisto arrived in Khartoum, where he held a series of meetings with senior Sudanese officials, including the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and Transitional Prime Minister Kamil El-Tayeb Idris. He also met with civil society representatives and political actors. In an 8 September press briefing, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric said that Haavisto’s discussions focused on practical measures to advance de-escalation and the protection of civilians, including the release and exchange of detainees. During his visit, Haavisto also called for an inclusive political process alongside tangible steps to reduce violence.
In late July and early August, the Quintet held consultations in Addis Ababa with Sudanese political blocs and parties, including representatives of the National Forces Coordination, the Democratic Bloc, the National Movement Forces, and the National Umma Party. The latest discussions built on the Quintet’s initial engagement with a group of Sudanese civilian actors on the sidelines of the third international Sudan conference, held in Berlin on 15 April, and further consultations in early June.
Between 8 and 10 September, Quintet representatives undertook a good offices mission to Khartoum aimed at advancing direct political consultations with Sudanese stakeholders. During the visit, they met with Burhan and Idris, among other Sudanese officials, as well as a range of political and civilian actors and independent women and youth groups. The Quintet reiterated its support for an inclusive, Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned political track leading to a transition towards a democratic, civilian-led government.
On 10 August, media reports indicated that Burhan had held consultations with political and civil society actors aimed at preparing for an intra-Sudanese dialogue conference. The discussions reportedly resulted in agreement on the establishment of a committee to undertake preparatory work for the proposed dialogue. Subsequently, Burhan announced that he would provide legal, political, and security guarantees for participants in the process. The committee, comprising prominent Sudanese civilian figures, was formally launched in late August.
During its September visit to Khartoum, the Quintet met with members of the preparatory committee, who reportedly outlined the committee’s mandate and the scope of its work at this stage, as well as their views on the support that regional and international actors could provide to the prospective dialogue process.
At tomorrow’s meeting, Council members are likely to exchange views on ongoing mediation efforts and express support for initiatives aimed at bringing an end to the conflict. Several members may urge states to refrain from external interference and from actions that could further fuel hostilities. Members are also likely to stress the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, ensure compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and promote accountability for violations. Some members may further call for strict compliance with the 1591 Sudan sanctions regime, while others might reiterate calls to expand the geographical scope of the arms embargo beyond Darfur to encompass the entire country.
