Eight Western nations endorse Sudan civilian-led peace dialogue

Eight Western nations have endorsed a civilian-led peace dialogue for Sudan, throwing their weight behind an inclusive political transition toward democratic governance and explicitly rejecting a military settlement to the country's war. The US-led coalition said the process would be locally driven, with Sudanese civilians at its centre rather than the warring generals, and is expected to launch within weeks. Organisers plan to coordinate the dialogue through the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the European Union and the United Nations, aligning regional and international mediation behind a single track. The coalition framed the initiative as the only viable path out of a conflict that has displaced millions and pushed parts of Sudan toward famine since fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. By insisting on a civilian-led framework, the backers signalled they will not accept an outcome that entrenches either army's grip on power. For Gulf states, including Qatar, which have pressed for a negotiated end to the war and supported humanitarian access, a unified Western-African-UN mediation track offers a clearer channel for diplomacy than the competing initiatives that have stalled previous efforts.