Khartoum – Sudan Now
United Nations Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, has called on Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to support ongoing efforts led by the international Quintet mechanism aimed at advancing political dialogue and promoting a peaceful resolution to Sudan’s conflict.
The appeal came during a meeting in Khartoum attended by Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Mohi Eldin Salem, where the two sides discussed ongoing regional and international efforts to support peace initiatives in Sudan.
Speaking after the meeting, Haavisto said the visit was his second to Sudan since assuming office in March 2026, noting that he has spent recent months conducting extensive consultations across the region with heads of state, government officials, political actors, civil society representatives and other Sudanese stakeholders.
He said those consultations focused on Sudanese perspectives regarding the country’s future and ways to support efforts aimed at ending the war, which has continued since April 2023 and triggered one of the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crises.
Haavisto said his current efforts are centered on encouraging de-escalation measures that can reduce tensions, build confidence among the parties and create conditions conducive to a broader peace process.
He added that discussions with al-Burhan addressed practical steps that could help advance dialogue and support efforts to reach a sustainable political settlement.
The UN envoy also briefed the Sudanese leader on the work of the Quintet mechanism, which brings together the African Union, IGAD, the Arab League, the United Nations and the European Union. The group has been seeking to facilitate consultations among Sudanese stakeholders as part of wider efforts to revive a political process capable of addressing the conflict.
According to Haavisto, the discussions included developments from the recent consultations held in Addis Ababa, where Sudanese political and civil actors met under the auspices of the Quintet to explore pathways toward an inclusive Sudanese-led dialogue.
The Addis Ababa meetings formed part of a broader international effort to encourage consensus among Sudanese political forces amid persistent divisions over the shape of a future political settlement and the mechanisms needed to end the war.
Haavisto stressed that any future political process must remain Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned, emphasizing that international partners can support dialogue but cannot replace Sudanese stakeholders in determining the country’s future.
He said he requested al-Burhan’s support for ongoing efforts designed to meet the aspirations of the Sudanese people and help move both the political and security tracks forward.
The UN envoy reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, adding that he would continue engaging with all Sudanese parties in an effort to narrow differences, build consensus and support the development of a shared vision for peace and stability.
Haavisto said he intends to maintain regular consultations in Khartoum and across the region as part of efforts to support a sustainable resolution to the conflict, which has displaced millions of people and deepened political, economic and humanitarian challenges across Sudan.
