The Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces in Sudan, known as Taqaddum, held a meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, attended by the leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, media reported.
The Taqaddum delegation was led by former Prime Minister and Taqaddum Chairman Abdallah Hamdok, and discussed "critical issues concerning the protection of civilians, facilitation of humanitarian aid delivery, and exploring pathways for a peaceful resolution to Sudan’s ongoing conflict," the outlet added.
The Taqaddum leaders reportedly emphasized the importance of the meeting in launching an intra-Sudanese process aimed at restoring a civilian-led transition and laying the groundwork for the upcoming general elections.
The development came shortly after Dagalo met with the East African leaders. On Sunday, the RSF chief was received by Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh, and during the meeting Dagalo stressed his "readiness to participate in negotiations aimed at achieving a swift, just, and comprehensive peace in Sudan."
The paramilitary leader had met with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Kampala last Tuesday.
For his part, Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said that welcoming any Sudanese party that does not recognize the existing government is considered "clear hostility towards Sudan."
Violent clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces began in April. Clashes between the military forces later spread to other regions of Sudan. Since then, the parties to the conflict have declared a series of temporary nationwide cease-fires, but none of them have helped to resolve the conflict.