Minnawi appointed governor of Darfur region

May 2, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – Minni Minnawi the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement has been appointed Governor of the Darfur region.

In a decision issued on 29 April seen by the Sudan Tribune, the Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok said Minnawi’s appointment comes in accordance with the Juba Peace Agreement.

The 3 October 2020 deal provides to establish a regional authority in the western Sudan region.

The chairman of the Darfur region is nominated by the armed groups that took part in the peace process while his deputy is appointed by the transitional government.

Minnawi complained several times about the slow pace of peace implementation.

On Sunday, he posted a tweet from the Chadian capital Ndjamena praising the prime minister and the members of the Sovereign Council for his appointment.

“I hope we work together in a spirit of cooperation,” he added.

No law indicating the powers and attributions of the Darfur governor has been endorsed yet.

Following the signing of the Abuja peace agreement in May 2006, Minnawi had been appointed a chairman of Darfur regional authority but he was frustrated by the lack of cooperation from the governors of the region’s states who were from the former regime.

The new constitution to be endorsed at the end of the transitional period is expected to divide Sudan into 8 regions and to cancel the current 18 states.

The prime minister is expected to appoint soon the new governors after the participation of the signatory groups in the transitional government.

(ST)