Inclusion will prove critical to Sudan peace process

Significance The resulting ‘Addis Ababa Declaration’ has provoked stern scrutiny of Tagadom’s legitimacy, as well as broader reflection on the importance of a peace process that is genuinely inclusive of grassroots civilian groups. Impacts Multiple, uncoordinated mediation efforts will allow the army and RSF to forum shop and dictate the terms of peace talks. The continued exclusion of civilians from peace processes risks motivating more citizens to take up arms instead. Humanitarian response shortfalls will likely persist as international aid budgets tighten and attention is distracted by crises elsewhere. The perceived recycling of old, failed solutions will aggravate trust deficits among domestic actors and vis-a-vis mediators.