UN envoy visits Khartoum for Sudan de-escalation talks as fighting flares

September 5, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – The United Nations Secretary-General’s personal envoy to Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, arrived in Khartoum on Friday to consult with local leaders on measures to halt escalating violence and protect civilians, the U.N. said.

Haavisto’s visit comes amid intense fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the southeastern Blue Nile region.

Both sides have also dispatched major reinforcements to parts of Kordofan, Darfur, and the border triangle area in Sudan’s far northwest.

The latest clashes in Blue Nile, which borders Ethiopia, have triggered heavy displacement from the Geissan and Kurmuk districts, raising alarms over deteriorating humanitarian conditions.

The U.N. said in a statement that Haavisto would hold consultations with key stakeholders on de-escalation measures and civilian protection.

On Tuesday, Sept. 8, Haavisto will be joined in Khartoum by representatives of the Quintet—the African Union, European Union, IGAD, and the Arab League—for meetings on the political landscape and proposals to advance an intra-Sudanese dialogue, the U.N. added.

The envoy will continue to engage Sudanese actors inside and outside the country to support an inclusive, Sudanese-owned and led peace process.

On Thursday, Haavisto spoke by phone with RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York.

“We continue to emphasize the importance of reaching a negotiated settlement to this conflict that reflects the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people,” Dujarric said.

In Khartoum, Haavisto opened discussions with Darfur regional governor Minni Arko Minawi.

Minawi said on Facebook that the talks covered security, humanitarian, and political challenges facing the country, with an emphasis on the conflict in Darfur.

He stressed the need for unhindered humanitarian aid access, civilian protection, and logistical support to deliver national secondary school exams to Sudanese refugee students in neighbouring Chad.

Minawi also argued that dialogue remains the only viable path out of the conflict, provided it is an inclusive, Sudanese-led initiative rather than a process limited to the two warring generals.

A sustainable peace requires addressing displacement, transitional justice, development, and the voluntary return of refugees to their homes, Minawi added.