AGP Executive Report

Sudan Peace Talks: Sudan’s Sovereign Council chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ordered cases dropped against Sudanese abroad who enter to join dialogue, aiming to create guarantees for a Sudanese-Sudanese national process. Humanitarian Accountability: Civil society groups urged the UN Human Rights Council to extend and properly fund the Sudan fact-finding mission, including resources to investigate abuses and report on El Obeid. War’s External Supply Lines: A policy piece warns Europe against treating Darfur arms flows as a “local” problem, arguing that the war is nationwide and that illicit corridors must be publicly exposed and dismantled. Civilians Under Strain: Separate reporting highlights worsening conditions in Sudan’s El Obeid, with food shortages and collapsing services deepening civilian suffering. Regional Security Spillover: The week’s coverage also flags fears of cross-border regional spillover as fighting and external involvement continue to reshape the security map.

Sudan Dialogue Update: Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan granted temporary immunity to Sudanese taking part in a national dialogue, ordering state agencies to drop criminal cases tied to political opinions expressed during participation, while an earlier amnesty for fighters remains in force. UN Accountability Push: Civil society groups in Geneva urged the UN Human Rights Council to extend the Sudan Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for two years and fund it to investigate grave violations, including a written report on the El Obeid urgent inquiry. Humanitarian Pressure: President John Dramani Mahama used the Non-Aligned Movement summit to call out “selectivity and indifference,” urging universal enforcement of international law and demanding unhindered aid access in Gaza while highlighting Sudan’s worsening crisis and mass displacement. Returnees Under Strain: Reporting says returnees in Khartoum face severe challenges as the capital struggles to recover from war, with services and safety still under heavy pressure. Health & Care: New research on Sudanese families links schizophrenia-related genes to local cases, adding to the evidence base for mental health care needs.

Sudan Civil War Politics: Sudan’s Civil Democratic Alliance of the Forces of the Revolution condemned an African Union Commission statement welcoming an “inconclusive” dialogue call by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, saying it risks entrenching division and legitimising ruling authorities. Humanitarian & Civilian Protection: President John Dramani Mahama used the Non-Aligned Movement anniversary in Belgrade to urge sustained international attention and unhindered aid access for war-torn Sudan, warning civilians are being left behind. Internal Conflict & Armed Groups: A report says Sudan’s RSF senior officials met Israel during the war, with contacts linked to a pre-2023 security and intelligence partnership. Food Security & Local Economy: In El Gezira, farmers split over new agricultural and livestock associations, while delayed rains are threatening North Darfur’s farming season and food security. Religious Freedom: A Sudan-focused rights report says violence against Christians has intensified, including killings, abductions and forced conversions.

Sudan War Diplomacy: President John Dramani Mahama used the Non-Aligned Movement anniversary in Belgrade to press for sustained attention to Sudan’s “world’s largest and worst humanitarian crisis,” calling for protection of civilians and unhindered aid access. RSF-Israel Links: A new Africa Intelligence investigation says senior RSF officials met Israeli counterparts in Tel Aviv in May 2025 and February 2026, with reporting suggesting possible surveillance-technology transfers tied to a longer security relationship. Women’s Dialogue Pushback: Sudan’s women leaders are challenging Gen. Abdelfattah El Burhan’s proposed dialogue plan, warning it may entrench division unless there are ceasefire conditions, real guarantees, and genuine participation. Humanitarian Deterioration in El Obeid: Eyewitnesses and aid reporting describe worsening conditions in El Obeid, with tens of thousands of displaced people arriving amid food shortages and overcrowded camps. Political Fragmentation Warning: The Sudan Youth Parliament says grassroots strategy is needed to prevent “deepening de facto partition” as Burhan promotes internal dialogue alongside regional and international efforts. Religious Persecution Alarm: Reports say persecution of Christians in Sudan’s civil war has intensified, including killings, abductions, destroyed church property, and forced conversions.

AU Conflict Diplomacy: President John Dramani Mahama arrived in Luanda for the AU’s 21st Extraordinary Session focused on conflict prevention and resolution, with leaders expected to push an action plan to strengthen peace mechanisms and financing amid crises including Sudan. African-Led Peace Funding: AU Vice President Constantino Chiwenga told the summit Africa can’t rely on donors, saying the continent already has the tools but needs political will and real implementation to stop wars. Sudan Dialogue Push: The AU welcomed a new Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue initiative to be held inside Sudan under an independent committee of elders, urging broad civil and political participation and “genuine Sudanese ownership.” Internal Dialogue Under Fire: Prominent civil figures launched groundwork for national talks after Burhan’s August 14 offer of guarantees, but anti-war groups warn talks in army-controlled areas could entrench military influence. Return to Khartoum: A new report says people are returning to Khartoum, but reintegration remains fragile without electricity, water, healthcare, housing, schools, and security. RSF Desertions: State media and reports say about 200 RSF fighters defected to the Sudanese army in Omdurman, adding to a wider wave of departures. Port Sudan and Iran Links: A study claims Iran and Houthi-linked networks are using Port Sudan as a logistics and financing hub, moving beyond drones and training into a wider operational network. Sanctions Watch: A sanctions and export-controls update flags tighter U.S. scrutiny and forthcoming export restrictions affecting Sudan.

Sudan War & Diplomacy: The African Union backed a Sudanese-led internal dialogue to end the conflict, saying consultations should include civil society and be supervised by independent Sudanese elders, while warning that Sudan’s war is spreading risk across the region. Internal Dialogue Push Meets Resistance: Prominent civil figures launched an initiative for national dialogue, but anti-war groups and eastern civil forces warned that talks under army-controlled conditions could legitimize military control. Defections Signal Shifts on the Ground: Sudanese state media reported 200 RSF fighters defecting to the army in Omdurman with equipment, adding to earlier reported RSF desertions. Red Sea Security & Iran Links: A U.S. think-tank report says Sudan—especially Port Sudan—has become a logistics and financing hub in Iran-Houthi military networks, including claims of training and drone support. Humanitarian Reality in Khartoum: Returnees in Khartoum face power and water cuts, unemployment, and rising prices, with services only slowly restarting. Civilian Protection & Arms Embargo Debate: A U.S. push to expand a Darfur arms embargo across all Sudan is framed as crucial for women’s safety amid ongoing violence.

RSF-Israel Links: A report says RSF deputy commander Abdel Rahim Dagalo made secret visits to Israel to build diplomatic backing while facing UN, US and EU sanctions over Darfur war crimes. Sudan Peace Process Clash: Abdelwahid El Nur’s SLM-AW rejects Burhan’s dialogue plan, warning it would legitimize ruling authorities unless fighting ends first and civilians are protected. Arms Embargo Push: The US backs expanding Darfur’s arms embargo to cover all Sudan, with China and Russia resisting as the debate turns to how weapons flows fuel violence against civilians—especially women. Khartoum Remittances Plan: Sudan’s finance ministry is finalizing an electronic payment framework to link with Saudi mobile banking, aiming to move Gulf remittances through regulated channels as war strains the economy. Regional Spillover Warning: The US and African Union warn against Sudan’s reported strikes inside Chad, urging restraint and updated UN sanctions to stop external backing. AU Peace Architecture Reform: AU leaders in Luanda call for stronger conflict prevention, early warning and sustainable financing across Africa, with Sudan named among key instability zones.

Sudan–Chad Regional Spillover: The US and African Union warned of wider regional fallout after reports of Sudanese air strikes inside Chad, urging a humanitarian truce and tighter UN sanctions and an arms embargo to stop external backing. Arms Embargo Debate: Washington is pushing the UN Security Council to expand the Darfur arms embargo to cover all of Sudan, arguing it would curb violence against civilians—especially women—while China and Russia resist. Humanitarian Strain in Kordofan: In El Obeid, North Kordofan, civilians displaced by fighting between the SAF and RSF are arriving daily; overcrowding, food shortages, and trauma are worsening conditions in the city and nearby camps. Khartoum Recovery Challenges: Returnees to Khartoum face persistent power and water cuts, unemployment, rising transport costs, and insecurity that slows any return to normal life. Politics and Dialogue: Anti-war forces and the SLM-AW renewed rejection of Burhan’s dialogue plan, warning it could entrench wartime divisions and legitimize de facto authorities. Sudan Remittances Push: Sudan is finalizing an electronic payment framework linked to Saudi mobile banking to move Gulf remittances through regulated channels and boost foreign-exchange inflows.

Khartoum Curfew Lift: Sudan has lifted a two-year curfew in the capital, a sign authorities say security is improving, though checkpoints and patrols remain in key areas. Blue Nile Front Escalation: Fighting has intensified near Sudan’s eastern border with Ethiopia, with the RSF and allies announcing they seized strategic bases in Blue Nile, while the army says it shot down drones it claims came from Ethiopian territory—raising fresh spillover fears. Ethiopia Dams Debate: A new Ethiopian statement argues the country has the right to build dams beyond the GERD, pushing back on Egypt’s renewed pressure. AU Conflict-Prevention Push: Ghana’s President John Mahama arrived in Luanda for the AU extraordinary summit focused on strengthening conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms, with Sudan listed among the key crises. Nepal Flood Rescue With Sudan Links: Nepal and China continue searching for nearly 3,000 missing after Himalayan floods; rescuers have begun pumping air into a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydropower site, while Sudan’s name also appears in the Nepal coverage via the home minister leading the response.

Khartoum Normalcy Push: Sudan’s military-led authorities lifted a long-running curfew and state of emergency in Khartoum, reopening the main airport and urging embassies and businesses to return, though residents still face looting damage and power blackouts. Blue Nile Border Escalation: Fighting moved closer to Ethiopia as the RSF and allies claimed they seized the Sirkam and Bakori bases in Blue Nile, while the army said it shot down drones approaching from Ethiopian territory—raising fears of wider spillover. Darfur Cross-Border Strike Claims: The Western Darfur Civil Administration accused the SAF of a drone strike on the Adekong border market near Chad, killing and injuring dozens and warning repeated attacks could disrupt trade and aid routes. UN Sanctions Pressure: Massad Boulos outlined a UN Security Council push to expand the Darfur arms embargo across all Sudan and include drones, as major powers debate how far to go. Foreign Fighters Allegations: A UAE-linked mercenary network reportedly deployed Colombian veterans to support the RSF in Darfur, citing intelligence documents and field interviews.

Khartoum Normalization: Sudan’s military-led authorities lifted a two-year curfew and state of emergency in Khartoum, reopening the main airport for some flights and urging embassies and businesses to return—though residents still face looting damage and frequent power blackouts blamed on alleged RSF drone attacks on the electricity grid. Darfur/Blue Nile Frontlines: RSF claimed it seized strategic bases of Sarkam and Bakuri in Blue Nile near the Ethiopia border, while separate reports say SAF and RSF fighting intensified across Kordofan and Blue Nile. Cross-border Fallout: A Chadian airstrike near the Chad–Sudan border market in Adikong killed at least 12 people, with investigations ongoing; the incident underscores how the war is spilling beyond Sudan. UN Sanctions Push: Massad Boulos outlined a UN Security Council push to expand Darfur arms restrictions across all Sudan and explicitly include drones, seeking tougher pressure for talks. Foreign Mercenaries Allegations: A Financial Times-linked report says UAE-linked networks deployed hundreds of Colombian veterans to support RSF in Darfur, raising new accountability demands.

Darfur Accountability: Human rights groups and UN monitors are pressing for strict action after a Financial Times investigation says foreign mercenaries helped the RSF during the El Fasher siege, including technical support like drones and air-defense systems, with device-tracking placing Colombian contractors inside the city as mass killings followed. Khartoum Normalization: Sudan’s military-led government lifted a two-year curfew and state of emergency in Khartoum, reopening the airport and urging businesses back, but residents still face looting damage and severe power blackouts blamed on attacks on the grid. Humanitarian Strain: Reuters reports worsening electricity failures are freezing livelihoods across army-controlled areas, while the UN refugee agency is also cutting budgets and staffing for 2027 amid funding shortfalls. War Spillover Fears: The US warned after reports of a Sudanese army airstrike inside Chad, saying the conflict risks spreading and calling for expanded UN arms embargo coverage. Arms Embargo Push: Washington is seeking to expand the Darfur arms embargo to cover all Sudan, including drones, as Security Council talks loom. Civilian Impact: Reuters highlights daily life disruptions from rolling blackouts in Omdurman, with households unable to store food or finish basic work. Justice Process: In the Machar trial, prosecutors asked the court to clarify the procedure for remaining examinations without reopening completed questioning. Press Under Pressure: A journalist in Berber was arrested on charges of spreading “fake news” after criticizing an SAF-aligned Islamist faction, underscoring growing risks for local reporting.

Cross-border escalation: A U.S. envoy says a reported Sudanese army air strike inside Chad has raised fears the war could spill across borders, after Chad accused Khartoum of hitting a convoy in Ennedi-Est and Sudan’s army did not publicly claim responsibility. Civilian press under pressure: A journalist in Berber was arrested and charged with “spreading fake news” after criticizing an SAF-aligned Islamist faction, highlighting growing risks for reporters covering Sudan’s civil war and humanitarian crisis. Drones and disputed responsibility: Sudan’s army says it shot down a “strategic” drone that entered from Ethiopia’s direction, a claim that underscores how cross-border routes complicate accountability. War and diplomacy at the UN: The UN Security Council is weighing an expanded arms embargo on Sudan, with the U.S. pushing for wider coverage as Russia and China resist. Humanitarian strain: WFP warns global conflict is driving Sudan deeper into hunger, while UN-backed education funding is set to support crisis-affected children. Information and rights: UN and Red Cross calls for urgent rules on autonomous weapons add pressure to strengthen protections as drone warfare expands. Civilian dialogue blocked: Sudanese opposition groups reject Burhan-backed national dialogue, calling for an alternative peace process.

UN Security Council Arms Embargo Push: The US is urging the UN Security Council to expand the Darfur arms embargo to cover all of Sudan, explicitly including drones and related tech, as drone attacks intensify; Russia and China are reported to resist while Sudan also pushes back. Humanitarian Fallout: The World Food Programme warns Sudan is being driven deeper into hunger as global conflict and fuel/trade disruptions push basic food costs up sharply, calling out how aid delays and missed warnings have worsened crises. Civilian Protection Debate: The UN and ICRC are calling for urgent, binding rules on autonomous weapons, warning machines could soon select and attack people without meaningful human control. War’s Diplomatic Double Standard: A new analysis argues international action has often tracked battlefield gains, citing the lack of decisive intervention before El Fasher fell and questioning why urgency wasn’t matched earlier. Local Impact on the Nile: AFP reports farmers along Sudan’s Nile are struggling as low water levels and delayed rains leave fields parched, with conflict and climate pressures compounding the crisis. Regional Spillover Risk: Chad has reopened concerns after airstrikes near the Sudan-Chad border, raising alarms about cross-border escalation and the growing role of drones in the war.

Sudan War Diplomacy: The US is pushing the UN Security Council to expand the arms embargo from Darfur to all of Sudan, explicitly covering drones, as Russia, China and Sudan resist; Denmark, Britain and France back the move while Sudan’s Burhan dismisses new sanctions. Humanitarian Crisis: WFP warns conflict and global disruptions are driving Sudan deeper into hunger, with food costs up nearly 40% since February and urges action before famine is declared. Civilian Protection at Risk: A UN Security Council emergency session focused on protecting civilians as aid risks becoming leverage; analysts say the debate is also about extending the arms export ban under international humanitarian law. Political Process Signals: Sudan’s Radical Change Forces’ Alliance says it has been in contact with the Quintet and the UN envoy, but insists those talks don’t grant outsiders a mandate to represent it, stressing Sudanese ownership of any peace process. Regional Context: Egypt and Chad’s foreign ministers discussed regional issues and reaffirmed support for Sudan’s unity and a Sudan-owned settlement.

UN Security Council: The US urged the UN to expand the Darfur arms embargo to cover all of Sudan, explicitly including drones and related tech, arguing outside military and political support is prolonging the SAF–RSF war; Denmark, Britain and France back the move while China and Russia oppose it, and Sudan’s representative pushed back. Humanitarian access: UN officials warned that conflict-driven hunger is at record levels, with Sudan among the hardest hit as shipping chokepoints raise food and fuel costs. Civilians and health: In South Darfur, a hospital closure in Rahad Al-Bardi left pregnant women and other patients dying on the road to Nyala after the locality’s only doctor left and services stopped. Political process: Sudan’s Radical Change Forces’ Alliance said its contacts with the Quintet and the UN envoy are about shaping a Sudan-owned peace process, not accepting any external mandate. Diplomacy: Egypt’s foreign minister reiterated Cairo’s support for Sudan’s unity and rejected “parallel entities” in talks with Chad on regional issues.