Minni Minnawi in Juba: No exclusion , Sudan Needs an Inclusive Political Process

In his address in Juba, Minni Minnawi, Governor of the Darfur Region and Chairman of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, presented a vision that went beyond Darfur to address Sudan’s national crisis as a whole. He stressed that ending the war should not be achieved through a settlement among political elites, but through an inclusive Sudanese dialogue involving all segments of the Sudanese people, without exclusion or marginalization.

Minnawi rejected the narrative that it is merely a conflict between two generals or simply a struggle for power.

In his view, the war has significant external dimensions and ambitions. He also highlighted what he described as grave violations in Darfur, including genocide, demographic change, and forced displacement.

Minnawi emphasized that yes to a humanitarian truce and yes to peace, but no to peace without guarantees.

Sustainable peace, in his view, requires the protection of civilians, the return of internally displaced persons and refugees, the restoration of security and basic services, and the rebuilding of state institutions, particularly a unified and national military institution, alongside justice that applies to all.

He further stressed that any new peace process should build on the Jeddah Declaration rather than start from scratch, and that a national dialogue should lead to transitional constitutional arrangements and, ultimately, a permanent constitution approved by the Sudanese people.

Given that this message was delivered from Juba, the capital of South Sudan, gives it particular significance. Sudan and South Sudan remain bound by deep historical, geographical, and social ties.

On the other hand, the notable diplomatic presence at the event, particularly from European missions, also gave the speech an important regional and international dimension.

At its core, Minnawi’s address carried a clear national message: Sudan cannot overcome its crisis through the old center–periphery or right–left divisions, nor through an exclusive dialogue among elites.

It requires an inclusive national project that rebuilds the state on the foundations of citizenship, justice, and popular participation.

Perhaps the most important sentence in his address captures the essence of his message:

“The dialogue must not be elitist; it must include all segments of the Sudanese people.”