Saudi Arabia seeks to build “new political fronts” for Al‑Burhan
By: Mohamed Ali Al-Kilani – Charilogone Editorial Team
According to reporting from Africa Intelligence, Saudi Arabia has intensified its efforts within the Sudanese political coalition Taqaddum, using communication channels with civilian actors aligned with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The goal is to shape a new civilian base that would politically support Sudan’s army commander, General Abdel Fattah al‑Burhan.
Trying to distance Al‑Burhan from Islamists and Darfur armed groups
Saudi Arabia is reportedly attempting to reshape Sudan’s political landscape by creating broader political fronts for Al‑Burhan, reducing his reliance on:
Islamist factions
Armed groups from Darfur allied with the Sudanese army
Figures such as Ali Rizq “Al‑Safna”, Faris Al‑Nour, and Al‑Nour Al‑Qoba are said to be part of this Saudi recruitment track. Riyadh is also engaging with civilian figures from the Soumoud forces, who recently met Saudi officials in Riyadh.
Saudi contacts have extended to leaders within the Soumoud coalition and certain factions of the Umma Party, aiming to gather disparate civilian groups under a single umbrella that would give Al‑Burhan more regional and international flexibility.
Redistributing influence inside Al‑Burhan’s camp
Media and political campaigns targeting armed groups allied with the army have intensified. Observers interpret this as part of a broader effort to rebalance influence within Al‑Burhan’s own camp.
Statements attributed to Minni Arko Minawi and Mubarak Ardol during meetings in Addis Ababa expressed frustration over the growing influence of Islamist elements and called for the inclusion of all political forces except the former ruling National Congress Party.
Saudi Arabia’s project: re‑engineering Sudan’s civilian landscape
Experts believe Riyadh’s actions go beyond recruiting individuals. They represent a larger project to redesign Sudan’s civilian political map for the post‑war phase, aligned with Saudi Arabia’s regional agenda.
These efforts are reportedly driven by the Saudi‑Sudanese Cooperation Council, chaired by former Saudi ambassador to Khartoum Jaafar bin Ali.
The obstacle of international sanctions
Observers note that Saudi Arabia may be overlooking a major constraint:
Even if Al‑Burhan gains new civilian support, he remains limited by U.S. and international sanctions, including:
Accusations of chemical weapons use
Economic sanctions targeting companies and institutions linked to the Sudanese army
These restrictions could undermine Saudi efforts, leaving the Cooperation Council operating in a political and legal minefield.
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