Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, chairperson of the African Union (AU), has invited Sudan’s Preparatory Committee for the inter-Sudanese dialogue to visit Burundi as part of efforts to advance talks aimed at resolving the country’s ongoing crisis.
Burundi’s ambassador to Sudan, Omar Ntezimbere, conveyed the invitation during a meeting with the committee at its headquarters in Khartoum on Tuesday.
Osman Mirghani, the committee’s official spokesperson, said the committee had accepted the invitation and would visit Burundi as soon as possible.
He said the initiative reflects Ndayishimiye’s efforts to foster understanding among Sudanese political groups and advance consultations on ways to resolve the crisis.
Mirghani welcomed Burundi’s support for the dialogue process, saying the committee had observed a serious commitment from the Burundian side to advancing the initiative.
He said the visit would provide an opportunity for further consultations on preparations for an inclusive inter-Sudanese dialogue.
The preparatory committee was formed to lay the groundwork for a Sudanese-led dialogue aimed at addressing the country’s political crisis. However, civilian and anti-war groups have questioned its independence and inclusiveness, warning that the process could favour political forces aligned with the military while excluding other groups.
The committee says it is consulting political parties, civil society organisations and community representatives, including displaced people, refugees, women and young people, to build consensus ahead of a proposed dialogue conference.
Sudan’s political forces remain divided over how to end the war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has triggered a major humanitarian crisis, displaced millions of people and complicated efforts to secure a negotiated settlement.
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