The Quintet Mechanism… What Does It Wish To Accomplish..?!
Dr. Omer El Garray
~ {And so they sought to harm him, but We made them inferior..}
Indeed, God Almighty has spoken the truth.
Throughout the most recent period, the Quintet —comprising the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union (AU), the League of Arab States, the European Union (EU), and the United Nations (UN)— invited all the Sudanese political forces to a meeting, scheduled to be held in “Addis Ababa” at the beginning of this month. The Sudan Founding Alliance (Tasis) announced in a statement that it would not attend this meeting, despite appreciating the Quintet’s previous efforts. According to the Alliance, this decision stems from concerns regarding the Quintet’s management style, the method used to determine party participation, and the resulting flaws, which necessitate a comprehensive review of the political process based on its established frameworks and objective principles.
Furthermore, the Civil Democratic Alliance of Revolutionary Forces (Sumoud) announced that it would not be attending this meeting, not out of rejection of the principle of dialogue, but due to the methodology employed by the “Quintet,” as (Sumoud) believes it wouldn’t lead to a credible process. The latter argued that the Quintet’s proposed solutions reward those responsible for igniting the ongoing war and encouraging its continuation. Moreover, (Sumoud) went on to reiterate its clear and unequivocal position -rejecting the National Congress Party (NCP) and its affiliates’ participation in the political process.
A statement issued in the name of the “Sudanese forces signatory to the Declaration of Principles” announced its intention not to attend the meeting, asserting that any serious political process ought to be Sudanese in terms of will and driving force, with Sudanese nationals determining its participants, formulating its agenda, and charting its course. The statement noted that they had previously submitted fundamental observations and reservations to the Quintet regarding the core of the political process and its procedures, however, these were ignored unfortunately. Hence, they emphasized that launching a genuine political process requires the participation of all Sudanese civil political forces with a vested interest in ending the war and achieving a just, comprehensive, and sustainable peace, while reiterating the exclusion of the National Congress Party, the Islamic Movement, and its affiliated fronts.
For its part, the National Umma Party (NUP) issued a statement announcing its refusal to attend the meeting, reaffirming the principles outlined in the statement issued by the Sudanese forces signatory to the Declaration of Principles, emphasizing that the political process ought to be Sudanese, with Sudanese nationals being the decision-makers in its design and management. The role of regional and international partners, the statement continued, should be to facilitate, support, and ensure the implementation of agreed-upon outcomes.
The National Umma Party further reiterated its categorical rejection of any attempts to circumvent the previously agreed-upon principles. It reaffirmed its unwavering stance against any attempt to reproduce the June 30th regime by including the National Congress Party, the Islamic Movement, and their political and organizational fronts in any political process, given their historical responsibility for undermining the constitutional order, igniting the war, and perpetuating the conflict.
Naturally, one cannot help but commend the conscious national stance adopted by all these alliances, and the National Umma Party, in rejecting the “Quintet” meeting until its positions and agenda are revised for the benefit of the nation. Nevertheless, the National Umma Party’s otherwise clear position was tarnished by the appearance of Ms. Mariam al-Sadiq al-Mehdi, leading a delegation of Party members to the “Quintet” meeting, as reported on (August 4th, 2026), despite her Party’s explicit rejection in the statement mentioned above! Naturally, Mariam al-Sadiq, in addition to her opportunism and shortsightedness, seeks to prove herself the de facto leader of the Umma Party, disregarding the opinions issued by the Party leadership. Furthermore, she is eager to pursue the ambitions of power, even by currying favor with the Muslim Brotherhood!
Which poses a number of valid questions: Why does the “Quintet” mechanism insist on imposing Al-Burhan, the National Congress Party, and the Islamic Movement on the future of the political situation in Sudan? Why does the “Quintet” seemingly fail to accept the statement issued by the “Quartet” -the United States (US), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Egypt- which was approved by all Sudanese political groups and which specifically stated the necessity of excluding the National Congress Party, the Islamic Movement, and their affiliated fronts from the future of political activity in Sudan?!
Egypt’s position from the very beginning has been to support Al-Burhan’s government in the war. In fact, Egypt is responsible for the war itself, as it instructed Al-Burhan to stage a coup against the civilian government. He had visited Egypt just hours before making the decision to overthrow the civilian government on (October 25th, 2021). Egypt’s interest in the continuation of the war is clear, because it will not find a more dilapidated, weak, and fearful regime willing to accept its aid and turn a blind eye to its unchecked plundering of the country’s resources than Al-Burhan’s regime.
In addition, Egypt attempted rather desperately to promote its vision through the “Quartet,” nevertheless, its efforts were met with failure, so it chose to remain silent and seek another avenue. In hindsight, the “Quintet” proved to be that avenue, hence, Egypt used the Arab League, and exhausted its relationships in the African Union, bringing Saudi Arabia along with it, and influencing the “Quintet,” convincing the latter to insist on the inclusion of Al-Burhan and his Muslim Brotherhood entourage.
In a similar context, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was initially in support of peace efforts in Sudan. However, its rivalry with the United Arab Emirates, which blatantly played a notable role in providing aid to Sudan, prompted Saudi Arabia to consider exploiting Sudan. For it believed, as did Egypt, that the presence of a democratic civilian government, and the restructuring of foreign relations based on parity and equality, would not serve to achieve any of their ambitions. As a result, Saudi Arabia was caught in the Egyptian scheme, which embellished Al-Burhan’s regime, and now -both parties- could turn a blind eye to the Muslim Brotherhood’s influence on Al-Burhan’s government, even though they consider them a terrorist group, whilst rendering any attempt by the Muslim Brotherhood to enter or exist within their own territories impossible.
Thus, Saudi Arabia paid absurd amount of money and purchased modern Pakistani tanks for Al-Burhan’s government, and paid leaders in the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to defect and join Al-Burhan’s government, in an attempt to weaken the Rapid Support Forces, so that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) of the Islamic Movement -which defends Al-Burhan’s government and is still oppressing Sudanese civilians- can prevail in their battle against the (RSF).
Initially, the “Quintet” was a regional group seeking to establish peace in Sudan for the benefit of the Sudanese citizens and the regional countries affected by this unjust war. However, it ended up becoming a party to the conspiracy against the Sudanese people, aiming to reorganize the Muslim Brotherhood and its armed militias, presenting them as participants in a civilian government. This would then allow them to overthrow the government using the Sudanese Army, which they now completely control, along with various militias, restoring their absolute rule and inflicting upon the Sudanese people all forms of killing, torture, and humiliation, as they did for thirty years under the rule of the ousted Bashir. And as they are doing now with acts of beheading, disembowelment, and the execution of innocent people on charges of collaborating with the Rapid Support Forces, only to then welcome the Rapid Support Forces leaders back as heroes when they return to the army!
Al-Burhan’s army, along with the Muslim Brotherhood militias, particularly Al-Baraa Brigade, used internationally prohibited chemical weapons in this war, injuring numerous civilians in the process. This was confirmed by French investigators, announced by the United States, and raised at a meeting of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Furthermore, by using this internationally prohibited deadly weapon, which Al-Burhan and Yasser Al-Atta appeared in video recordings referring to as the “lethal weapon,” Al-Burhan’s government, his army, and the affiliated Islamist militias have become perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity. How can the “Quintet” not be ashamed to defend such individuals and wish to include them as partners in determining the fate of the country they destroyed, whose people they killed, and against whom they used internationally prohibited weapons?!
The Sudanese people unanimously agreed on a civilian democratic government. They overthrew the Muslim Brotherhood government in the glorious December Revolution, making immense sacrifices to achieve it. The National Congress Party (NCP) and the Islamic Movement do not believe in democracy. That’s why they ruled Sudan for thirty years without ever experiencing it! Should we believe them now if they say they want to participate in a democratic civilian government? Restoring the slogans of the December Revolution —freedom, peace, and justice— requires holding accountable those who committed crimes against the public. Do the National Congress Party and the Islamic Movement wish to escape accountability by entering and participating in the upcoming political phase?
The “Quintet” has become a new front for the forces of darkness. They will not cease using all the pressure and inducements at their disposal to convince “Sumoud ” and the “National Consensus Forces” to accept the military and the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt and Saudi Arabia will not hesitate to push the “Quintet” down this path. The conspiracies and machinations of the international organization of the Muslim Brotherhood and Ali Karti’s group against the Sudanese people will not stop. They are plotting behind all of this to divide Sudan and rule only a part of it. However, the Almighty is ever-watchful when it comes to their schemes. Recite, if you will, {Then they sought a stratagem against him: but We made them the ones that lost most!}.
