Minnawi in Berlin: Any Truce That Fails to Disarm the Militia Will Prolong the War

Berlin – Sudanhorizon

The Governor of Darfur, Minni Arko Minnawi, has reiterated that the government remains open to initiatives that respect Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, the choices of its people, and their legitimate rights.

Minnawi, who is currently visiting Germany and also serving as an envoy of the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, spoke during a briefing session organized by the Sudanese Embassy in Berlin on Friday. He stressed that any truce that fails to disarm the militia, remove its forces from cities and villages, expel mercenaries from Sudanese territory, and ensure the return of refugees and internally displaced people would not deliver peace. Instead, he warned, it would provide a recipe for the continuation of war, genocide, and killing. He called on the international community to halt external support for the militia, which he said was prolonging the war and enabling crimes against civilians.

The briefing was attended by representatives of research centers and media organizations. Alongside Minnawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Muawiya Osman Khalid addressed the gathering. Both spoke at length about the nature of the war, describing it as external aggression carried out through the terrorist Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia and targeting the Sudanese people, the country’s sovereignty and unity, and its territorial integrity.

For his part, Muawiya Osman Khalid explained that the Sudanese dialogue is an independent initiative owned entirely by Sudanese people. He pointed to decisions issued by the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council to build confidence and facilitate the participation of Sudanese living abroad in the dialogue process, noting that these decisions had been translated into legal and practical measures to ensure their involvement.

Khalid described the role of the independent committee, which includes prominent national figures, as preparing the atmosphere and groundwork for dialogue rather than managing the dialogue itself. He added that Sudanese people would decide for themselves the dialogue’s agenda, issues, and timeframe.

The undersecretary called on the international community to support an inclusive Sudanese dialogue that excludes no one. He also highlighted the efforts of the Quintet Mechanism, saying it could play a supportive role in the Sudanese dialogue, which is to be held inside Sudan.

Meanwhile, Sudan’s Chargé d’Affaires in Berlin, Ambassador Idris Mohammed Ali, expressed the country’s appreciation for the humanitarian assistance Germany has continued to provide. He called for expanding that support to include early recovery and reconstruction needs.

He described the visit by the Governor of Darfur, the envoy of the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with the delivery of a written message from President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to the German Chancellor, as an important milestone in strengthening communication and constructive engagement between the two countries.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Berghof Foundation, Der Spiegel magazine, newspapers, and humanitarian organizations.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=19112