Arabic version: تحليل يشكك في مقترح البرهان للحوار في السودان
According to Allafrica, Sudanese political analyst Ezzat Khairi argues that General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s call for a comprehensive dialogue inside Sudan is not a credible route to a civilian democratic transition. The analysis cites reports of proposals to drop death-penalty charges against opposition leaders, create a preparatory committee and consider a presidential amnesty for leaders of the Civil Democratic Alliance, known as Somoud, and other activists.
Khairi says Burhan has made previous commitments to civilian rule. After Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in 2019, Burhan promised a civilian government and a transition lasting no more than two years, the article says. In October 2021, Burhan led a military takeover that dissolved the civilian-led government, imposed emergency rule and saw Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok detained. Burhan also said in 2022 that the army would withdraw from politics, according to the analysis.
The article argues that dialogue conducted under military authority in army-controlled territory would leave coercive institutions in the hands of the power that disrupted Sudan’s transition. It says the Sudanese Armed Forces camp includes regular units, Darfuri armed movements, local defence groups and Islamist-linked networks, while the Rapid Support Forces is led by Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. Khairi contends that a settlement would require a national army, civilian oversight, accountability and the exclusion of former-regime networks.
The analysis also points to continued insecurity and weak services in areas held by the army. It cites a July 2026 Reuters report that more than two million people had returned to Khartoum while electricity was operating at about one-third of its prewar capacity. It also references reported drone strikes on Khartoum airport and other targets, pressure on al-Obeid, and earlier attacks on Port Sudan fuel depots that put aid deliveries at risk. Khairi concludes that a credible transition would require civilian leadership, a professional army under civilian control and Burhan’s departure from sovereign political authority.
