Secret talks between rival Sudanese generals
Joint initiative of Arab states as East African political track falters
Sudan’s military regime and the renegade paramilitary that it is fighting held secret talks earlier this month in the Arabian Gulf, even as a more prominent track of negotiations facilitated by the East African bloc IGAD broke down.
Secrecy around the meetings underscores the reluctance of the Sudanese army to negotiate openly with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) at this time, after public backlash over a series of stinging military defeats.
The army’s loss of large parts of Al-Jezira State last month, including the state capital Wad Madani, triggered chatter of a potential coup d'état, and a rare public rebuke from the Islamic Movement, which has substantial influence in the military and intelligence service.
At the same time, Arab states with historically close ties with Sudan have begun to coordinate more closely, amid growing Western diplomatic pressure and widespread, prominent media coverage over the United Arab Emirates’ role in supporting the RSF.
The recent talks were held in Mana…