Face of Truth: Doha Summit.. Sudan from Isolation to Influence

Ibrahim Shglawi

It is not easy to reintroduce Sudan to the table of regional and international politics after two and a half years of a war that has exhausted the interior and distorted its image externally. However, Khartoum, in its upcoming participation in the Arab-Islamic Doha Summit, goes to say that it was never out of the equation in the first place, and that the Sudanese state is still present, fighting, negotiating, repositioning itself politically, and rearranging its place on the regional and international map.

In this article, we review how Khartoum can utilize this diplomatic platform to reaffirm its principles, build a new network of political understandings, and achieve a degree of balance in its foreign discourse between rejecting interference and being open to serious initiatives that respect the state’s sovereignty and the unity of its institutions.

We also analyze the background that makes this summit a precise test for Sudan’s regional standing, especially in light of the growing divergence within the Quartet mechanism and the increasingly aware Sudanese public opinion regarding the nature of the war and the rejection of any externally imposed solutions.

The participation of General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, President of the Sovereignty Council, in a summit that brings together both the Arab and Islamic dimensions carries significant implications. The participation comes at an extremely complex time, where external political pressures intersect with the army’s progress on several fronts and with the rise of internal positions rejecting initiatives that do not respect the state’s sovereignty or reflect the actual balance of power.

Therefore, the Doha Summit, amid a charged regional climate following the Israeli aggression on Qatar, represents an important political platform that Khartoum is expected to invest in to consolidate its narrative regarding the war and clarify its stance on the initiatives presented in the name of peace—without losing regional balance.

Even a one-day participation is not without opportunities, as Al-Burhan is expected to hold a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit, especially with the presence of Foreign Minister Dr. Muhi Al-Din Salem within the delegation. It is a valuable moment if well utilized to convey Sudan’s direct message to influential countries, especially those involved in mediation mechanisms or with sway over the Security Council and UN organizations.

Here, Sudan can reaffirm what was recently expressed in the statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: that any initiative or mediation will not be acceptable unless it respects the unity of the state and does not equate the armed forces with the rebel militia.

What gives the Doha Summit a qualitative dimension is that it is being held at a time when the division among international and regional actors has become apparent. While some capitals, notably Abu Dhabi and Washington, continue to present themselves as peace sponsors, there is a growing widespread Sudanese sentiment—both official and popular—that some of these parties are not neutral but are practically involved in supporting the rebellion and tearing the state apart.

On the other hand, countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia are showing strategic caution and seem more ready to understand the complexities of the Sudanese scene, particularly regarding the impact of Sudan’s stability on the national security of the entire region.

This divergence within the Quartet itself represents a margin that can be utilized in favor of Khartoum’s position, especially if Sudan’s stance is presented within a coherent vision—not as a rejection of initiatives, but as a defense of sovereignty and a commitment to a just and comprehensive peace, not a fragile or temporary settlement.

The political momentum created by the summit, with leaders gathering, may open the door to dispelling some of the misconceptions promoted by platforms supporting the militia and allow Sudan to address Arab and Islamic public opinion in a language different from that of justification or defense—rather with confidence, partnership, and mutual interests.

Furthermore, the summit, in its Islamic dimension, comes at a moment where injustices intersect—from the aggression on Gaza to the recent Israeli aggression on Qatar—making it a rare opportunity to reintroduce Sudan as part of the Arab-Islamic consensus confronting Israeli violations. This may restore an ethical and strategic dimension to Sudan’s political discourse, which has been overshadowed by the internal war files.

Undoubtedly, what reinforces this opportunity is the increasing military advancement of the armed forces on several fronts and the growing cohesion of the internal front, which has begun to take clearer shape, especially after the exposure of the extent of foreign support to the militia and the involvement of external parties in fueling the conflict.

This internal cohesion is what gives the government real legitimacy and makes its voice at the summit—if well invested—more impactful and more capable of asserting its narrative before the leaders and participating delegations.

What is notable in the developments of the Sudanese crisis is that the discourse rejecting “imposed settlements” is no longer exclusive to the government or the armed forces, but has become part of a broad popular political discourse. Influential parties such as the Popular Congress Party, the Islamic Current, the Democratic Unionist, the National Movement, the Islamic Movement, and Freedom and Change – the Democratic Bloc, have clearly declared their rejection of any external initiative that ignores the real balance of power on the ground or equates the state with the militia.

This national consensus, as we see it from #Face_of_Truth, represents a political asset that Khartoum can support diplomatically, as an expression of a conscious internal front that rejects foreign interventions and adheres to sovereignty. The Doha Summit may not change the equation on its own, but it could represent a new beginning if Sudan makes good use of the moment and shifts from isolation to influence.

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Monday, September 15, 2025
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