Darfur Governor Minawi Leads Sudanese Delegation to Juba, Seeks Renewed South Sudan Mediation

A Sudanese delegation led by Darfur Regional Governor Mini Arko Minawi met South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit in Juba on or around August 18, 2026, recalling Kiir's past mediation role in Sudan's civil war and calling for renewed focus on implementing the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement. Discussions covered regional stability, security arrangements and joint forces, and the ethnic and demographic dimensions of the conflict in Darfur. Kiir said 'Peace in South Sudan is the peace of Sudan, and the stability of Sudan is the stability of South Sudan,' and the two sides agreed South Sudan would send a presidential delegation to Khartoum to assess implementation gaps in the Juba accord. The visit follows South Sudan's continued positioning as a potential mediator between SAF and RSF, alongside the AU Peace and Security Council's August 16 Khartoum visit and the African Union's broader push for a Sudanese-led political settlement.