Sudan: Riyadh and the Battle Over the Dialogue's Venue

The News:

Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a possible host of Sudan's upcoming national dialogue by expanding its contacts with political forces, a move that has irritated Burhan, who wants the dialogue held inside the country. Horn Review, citing informed sources, reported that Riyadh and Cairo have expressed support for the dialogue initiative, with contingency plans to hold it outside Sudan, possibly in Saudi Arabia, if civilian forces continue to reject a venue controlled by Port Sudan.

Background:

Since the war began, Saudi Arabia has intensified its contacts with Sudanese parties and, with Washington, hosted the Jeddah talks in May 2023. In June 2026, it told the Security Council that any political dialogue must be based on the Jeddah Declaration. On August 17, the two countries' foreign ministers signed in Riyadh an agreement establishing the Supreme Council for Strategic Coordination and Cooperation. The date and venue of the national dialogue have not yet been settled.

Causes:

Riyadh is building on its Jeddah track record, which originally opened the door to broadening negotiations to include civilians and regional partners. Reports indicate it is quietly working to build an internationally recognized civilian base around Burhan and has reached out to figures from various civilian camps, including some close to the RSF. The rejection of Burhan's domestic initiative by some political forces also makes Riyadh a more acceptable option for those who prefer a dialogue independent of military authority. This is reinforced by the new institutional framework in bilateral relations through the Supreme Council, which oversees ten sectors.

Implications:

Hosting the dialogue could become a source of tension between Riyadh and the Sudanese leadership if Khartoum sees it as infringing on its sovereignty. This coincides with a domestic track launched by Burhan, who formed a committee to prepare for the dialogue with temporary legal immunity for participants; it began work in Khartoum on August 30. Multiple tracks may allow parties to pick the forums that suit them without committing to any, weakening the mediators' leverage.

Why It Matters for the United States:

Saudi mediation gives Washington a regional partner it has tested in Jeddah, one that can help it keep up pressure to end the war without managing the process directly. But U.S. support does not mean an exclusive mandate for Riyadh, as Washington insists that Sudanese lead the process and that it include civilians and regional and international partners. The venue here is not a logistical matter but a lever of influence: holding the dialogue inside Sudan establishes Burhan as its initiator and manager, while holding it in Saudi Arabia gives Riyadh a bigger role in shaping the agenda and selecting participants. The venue itself may therefore become part of the negotiation, with each side using it to secure as much legitimacy as possible in the next phase.