Darfur Governor Minni Arko Minawi called for an inclusive, Sudanese-led political process to end the war during talks with UN envoy Pekka Haavisto in Khartoum on Saturday.
In a statement published on his page after the meeting, Minawi said Sudan’s future could not be decided through negotiations between just two parties. He urged the participation of political groups, civil society and communities to build a national consensus capable of delivering lasting stability.
Minawi said Darfur’s conflict was inseparable from Sudan’s broader crisis. A durable peace, he added, would require addressing displacement, justice, citizenship, development and reconstruction, while ensuring the safe return of displaced people and refugees.
He expressed openness to international efforts to help Sudan overcome the war, but maintained that Sudanese people must determine the final settlement, with the country’s unity and sovereignty taking precedence.
According to Minawi’s account, the meeting covered security, humanitarian and political developments across Sudan, with particular attention to the challenges facing Darfur. Discussions also addressed the roots of the conflict and conditions needed for a just peace that preserves Sudan’s territorial integrity.
The deteriorating humanitarian situation and the need for unhindered aid access were also on the agenda.
Minawi said the two discussed arrangements to make Sudanese secondary school certificate examinations available to refugee students in Chad, helping them continue their education despite the war.
He added that the talks underscored the importance of coordinating domestic and international efforts behind a Sudanese-led political process to end the crisis.
