Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council President, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, made a working visit to Riyadh on Monday, December 15, 2025, where he held high-level talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, focused on peace and stability in Sudan.
The visit comes at a critical time as Sudan’s devastating conflict, now in its second year, continues to exact a heavy toll, with tens of thousands killed and millions displaced across the country.
Strengthening Regional Mediation
Saudi Arabia, alongside the United States, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, forms the Quad, a diplomatic coalition working to broker a ceasefire between Sudan’s warring factions, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti.
According to a statement from the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), discussions between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and General Burhan focused on “developments in Sudan, their regional implications, and ongoing efforts to achieve security and stability in the war-torn country.”
The meeting was described by Sudanese officials as “successful and friendly,” with both sides reaffirming their commitment to deeper cooperation under the framework of the Saudi–Sudanese Coordination Council, established in October 2025 to advance bilateral economic and security initiatives.
Focus on Peace and Reconstruction
Diplomatic observers view Burhan’s trip as part of a broader push to reinvigorate regional engagement aimed at halting the conflict that has fractured Sudan since April 2023. The war between the SAF and RSF has paralyzed governance, crippled essential services, and plunged millions into famine-like conditions.
Riyadh has played a pivotal mediating role in Sudan’s peace process, hosting ceasefire negotiations in Jeddah earlier this year under joint Saudi–U.S. auspices. Despite multiple attempts, both sides have repeatedly violated truce agreements, prolonging the humanitarian catastrophe.
Humanitarian and Political Urgency
The United Nations has described Sudan’s situation as “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis,” with nearly half the population, around 25 million people, in urgent need of assistance.
While neither side issued a detailed communiqué following Monday’s meeting, analysts suggest that the talks may have addressed not only peace efforts but also Saudi Arabia’s potential role in post-war reconstruction, a prospect viewed as vital for stabilizing Sudan’s future.
