UN-brokered negotiations between Sudan's military rulers and civilian groups on finding a way out of the country's political crisis have been indefinitely postponed.
The inaugural session of the talks was held last Wednesday, with a second round scheduled to be held on Sunday. The first session was boycotted by all major opposition groups, including the powerful Forces of Freedom and Change, the Resistance Committees and the National Umma Party.
The decision to postpone the talks was made by what is known as the "trio" — the UN, African Union and the regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development grouping — which has been preparing for the discussions for months.
The FFC was the military's chief partner in a transitional administration toppled by the generals when they seized power in a coup last October. The takeover, led by army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, derailed the country's fragile democratic transition following the ousting in 2019 of dictator Omar Al Bashir.
It has deepened the country's economic and political woes and partially restored the international isolation Sudan endured for most of Mr Al Bashir's 29-year rule.
The FFC held an "informal" meeting with three top generals on Thursday and later said the UN-brokered negotiations were legitimising military rule and should be restricted to those behind the October 25 coup and the forces that have been opposing it.
That was a reference to near-daily street protests against military rule that have, according to the UN and reliable medical groups aligned with the opposition, killed at least 101 people and injured about 5,000.
Thursday’s meeting between the military and the FFC was held at the invitation of US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee and Faisal Hamed Al Muallah, the Saudi ambassador to Khartoum.
A senior FFC member told The National on Sunday that the indefinite postponement was made at the alliance's request, suggesting that it had no plans to join the talks. It also held out due to the possibility of more informal talks with the military, the official added.
"Wednesday's negotiations, as we have all seen, were exactly what the military wanted: to sit down with groups that are beholden to it and eventually reach an outcome that enshrines the rule of the generals and serves the generals' political interests," said the FFC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The trio said after Wednesday's talks that the process it brokered could not produce an outcome that would end the country's crisis if those who boycotted it continued to stay away.
The military itself echoed that notion, urging everyone to come forward and join in.
However, the postponement of the negotiations constitutes a victory for the forces that boycotted the process and is likely to strengthen their bargaining position if and when the process is eventually resumed.
The FFC's decision to meet the generals, on the other hand, could deepen existing divisions among the pro-democracy forces, which had been adamant not to negotiate with the military, end its political role altogether, and hold the generals accountable for the killing of protesters since October.
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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