Port Sudan – Sudan Now | 28 January 2026
The Governor of the Darfur Region, Commander Minni Arko Minnawi, met today in the city of Port Sudan with a high-level British delegation headed by Vice Admiral Edward Ahlgren, Senior Military Adviser at the UK Ministry of Defence for the Middle East and North Africa. The meeting was attended by the UK Special Envoy for Sudan, Richard Crowder, as well as the British Military Attaché in Cairo.
During the meeting, Minnawi provided a detailed briefing on the latest developments in Sudan’s security and military situation, as well as Darfur Region’s position on the ceasefire and truce. He affirmed the region’s readiness to welcome all serious efforts aimed at achieving peace and stability.
The regional governor emphasized that any discussions about a ceasefire or political settlement cannot take place before the withdrawal of the Al-Daglo militia from cities and state institutions, and before an end to the violations committed against civilians, including killings, looting, rape, and forced displacement on ethnic and racial grounds.
He clarified that the withdrawal of the militia from residential areas, the collection and storage of weapons in designated sites outside the cities, the return of police and state institutions, and ensuring citizens can safely return to their homes, are essential conditions for any genuine path toward peace.
Minnawi also stressed that the continued support of certain countries, most notably the United Arab Emirates, for this militia makes it difficult for them to be part of any solution to the Sudanese crisis.
The meeting also addressed the United Kingdom’s efforts to support peace and security initiatives in Sudan, and reviewed the trajectory of bilateral relations between the two countries, exploring ways to strengthen them in line with mutual interests.
For his part, UK Special Envoy Richard Crowder affirmed the support of the UK government and people for the Sudanese people, emphasizing his country’s commitment to achieving security and stability, restoring essential services, and advancing development and recovery efforts.
Crowder expressed his country’s sorrow over the suffering of the Sudanese people caused by the war, highlighting the urgent need for a ceasefire and the necessity for all parties to adhere to civilian protection in accordance with the Jeddah Declaration.
He also praised the historical ties between Sudan and the United Kingdom in education, culture, and economic development, highlighting the contributions of the Sudanese community to British society.
The UK envoy also announced that his country will take over the UN Security Council presidency next month and will host a joint conference with Germany in April to support Sudan. He emphasized close coordination with the United States, Norway, the United Nations, and the European and African Unions to bolster efforts for sustainable peace and stability in Sudan.
The meeting comes amid rising international pressure to find a political path to end the war in Sudan, which has been ongoing since April 2023, amid deteriorating humanitarian conditions, particularly in the Darfur region, where fighting and violations against civilians continue, and ceasefire efforts are hampered by ongoing combat and regional and international interventions in the conflict.
