KHARTOUM – Sudan’s Sovereign Council chairman and army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan met the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, in Khartoum on Saturday to discuss de-escalation, civilian protection and efforts to advance a political process.
The meeting took place at Al-Burhan’s office in the Republican Palace, according to Sudan’s state news agency SUNA.
The talks addressed the overall situation in Sudan, efforts to strengthen security and stability, and steps toward achieving a comprehensive peace, SUNA reported.
Haavisto said after the meeting that he had delivered “important messages” related to de-escalation and the protection of civilians.
He said the UN also looked forward to continuing meetings that could lead to the exchange of prisoners and detained civilians, in close cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Haavisto said dialogue remains the path toward sustainable peace and a comprehensive ceasefire in Sudan.
He added that he was ready to work and engage closely with all Sudanese stakeholders, as well as with partners in the Quint Mechanism, to move the political process forward and ensure that it is inclusive, integrated and responsive to the aspirations of the Sudanese people.
The Quint Mechanism includes the United Nations, African Union, European Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and League of Arab States.
Civilian Protection and Political Process
Haavisto’s visit to Khartoum follows a phone call with Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, during which the UN said they discussed de-escalation and civilian protection.
The UN envoy has also held recent consultations with Sudanese political and civil forces outside the country, including meetings in Nairobi with the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army led by Abdel Wahid Mohamed Nour and the Sudanese Declaration of Principles group.
Those meetings focused on the war, humanitarian conditions, political initiatives and proposals for a credible process to end the conflict.
Sudanese political forces remain deeply divided over the timing, venue and guarantees of any dialogue, particularly after Al-Burhan called for an internal Sudanese dialogue while large parts of the country remain affected by fighting and displacement.
Exams and Children’s Rights
Haavisto also stressed the importance of holding unified examinations across Sudan, describing the issue as a major concern for the international community.
He said the United Nations, working closely with UNICEF, is seeking to preserve children’s basic rights to access accredited examinations across the country.
The war has severely disrupted education in Sudan, with millions of children out of school because of displacement, insecurity, damaged infrastructure and the collapse of public services in several regions.
Haavisto also praised reconstruction efforts in Khartoum, saying he had observed construction and rehabilitation work that was helping the city return to normal life.
Sudan’s war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, has caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, displaced millions and left mediation efforts struggling to secure a durable ceasefire.
