Sudan’s Al-Burhan Revives Strategic Coordination Council With Saudi Arabia to Deepen Bilateral Partnership
The Sudanese transitional leader reinstates a high-level council with Riyadh in line with strategic agreements reached during recent talks with Saudi leadership
Sudan’s de facto head of state, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has issued a decree reconstituting the Supreme Council for Strategic Cooperation and Coordination between the Republic of Sudan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, signalling a deepening of ties between Khartoum and Riyadh.
The council, originally agreed upon in March 2025 following discussions between al-Burhan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is intended to elevate the bilateral relationship across political, economic and security sectors and institutionalise strategic cooperation between the two governments.
The decree formalising the council’s relaunch was issued on January 17 by Burhan in his capacity as Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces.
Sudan’s Sovereign Council described the move as based on understandings reached during a December meeting between Burhan and the Saudi Crown Prince in Riyadh, reflecting shared efforts to strengthen cooperation and elevate relations ahead of future joint initiatives.
The revival of the strategic coordination council takes place against a backdrop of extensive diplomatic engagement, including high-level meetings between Burhan and senior Saudi officials aimed at exploring avenues for peace, stability and reconstruction in war-torn Sudan.
Saudi Arabia has been an active partner in regional diplomatic mechanisms, including the so-called “Quartet” alongside Egypt, the United States and the United Arab Emirates, focused on ending the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
In recent months, Burhan has also met with Saudi senior officials in Port Sudan to discuss peace efforts and reinforce longstanding fraternal ties between the nations.
Sudan’s leadership highlighted the council’s reconstitution as part of a broader strategic vision to foster sustained cooperation across all sectors, building on historical links and responding to shared regional challenges.
The move underscores Riyadh’s continued engagement in Sudan’s political and security landscape and reflects both sides’ intentions to institutionalise partnership frameworks amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to stabilise Sudan and enhance economic and security collaboration.
The council, originally agreed upon in March 2025 following discussions between al-Burhan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is intended to elevate the bilateral relationship across political, economic and security sectors and institutionalise strategic cooperation between the two governments.
The decree formalising the council’s relaunch was issued on January 17 by Burhan in his capacity as Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces.
Sudan’s Sovereign Council described the move as based on understandings reached during a December meeting between Burhan and the Saudi Crown Prince in Riyadh, reflecting shared efforts to strengthen cooperation and elevate relations ahead of future joint initiatives.
The revival of the strategic coordination council takes place against a backdrop of extensive diplomatic engagement, including high-level meetings between Burhan and senior Saudi officials aimed at exploring avenues for peace, stability and reconstruction in war-torn Sudan.
Saudi Arabia has been an active partner in regional diplomatic mechanisms, including the so-called “Quartet” alongside Egypt, the United States and the United Arab Emirates, focused on ending the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
In recent months, Burhan has also met with Saudi senior officials in Port Sudan to discuss peace efforts and reinforce longstanding fraternal ties between the nations.
Sudan’s leadership highlighted the council’s reconstitution as part of a broader strategic vision to foster sustained cooperation across all sectors, building on historical links and responding to shared regional challenges.
The move underscores Riyadh’s continued engagement in Sudan’s political and security landscape and reflects both sides’ intentions to institutionalise partnership frameworks amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to stabilise Sudan and enhance economic and security collaboration.
