ADDIS ABABA — Sudanese opposition leader and former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has welcomed what he described as significant progress following two days of talks among Sudanese civilian and anti-war groups in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.
Representatives from a range of Sudanese anti-war movements, civil society organisations and youth networks concluded the meetings by signing a joint roadmap aimed at creating a unified civilian platform and paving the way for comprehensive peace negotiations to end Sudan’s devastating conflict.
The roadmap seeks to bring together Sudanese civilian forces that have opposed the war and support a political solution. Participants said greater coordination among civilian groups is necessary to establish a credible path toward peace and a return to civilian-led governance.
Hamdok, who has emerged as one of the prominent civilian figures calling for an end to the conflict, described the outcome of the talks as a positive step toward overcoming divisions among Sudanese political and civil society actors.
The discussions come as Sudan continues to face a severe humanitarian and security crisis following the outbreak of war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023.
The conflict has displaced millions of people, devastated infrastructure and triggered one of the world’s most serious humanitarian emergencies.
The civilian groups meeting in Addis Ababa said their objective is to build broad support for a negotiated settlement rather than a military solution. The newly signed roadmap is expected to serve as a framework for further consultations and efforts to establish a more unified civilian position ahead of future peace talks.
The success of the initiative, however, will depend on whether Sudan’s rival armed factions and other major political actors are willing to engage with the civilian-led peace process.
The Addis Ababa agreement marks another attempt by Sudanese civilian forces to consolidate their efforts and push for an end to the war through negotiations rather than continued military confrontation.
