Sudanese government rejects mediation summit

Sudan’s government, led by military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, rejected an invitation to an east African mediation summit in Uganda.

The military-aligned government also criticized the United Nations for its willingness to diplomatically engage the leaders of rival paramilitary forces. The Sudanese government has been at war since spring 2023, battling for control of the country with paramilitary forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, a former ally of al-Burhan. Dagalo’s forces now control large swathes of territory in western Sudan and are fighting for the capital, Khartoum. Lately, Dagalo has been touring African capitals to boost his diplomatic standing and gain external support.

The conflict has resulted in over 12,000 deaths and displaced close to 6 million Sudanese. Nevertheless, military forces are still in control of much of the territory, and the Sudanese government is supported by key regional players, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Thus, expect the military-aligned government to refuse any peace proposals in the near future and to continue fighting against the paramilitary forces.