Minni Minnawi
Encyclopedia
Suliman Arcua Minnawi known as "Minni Minnawi" (born 1968 in Furawiyya, North Darfur
) is the leader of the what once was the largest faction of the Sudanese Liberation Army until it was weakened by dissention and infighting. A former school teacher, Minnawi was the secretary of Sudan Liberation Army leader Abdul Wahid Nur, before the organization split in 2004.
Under Minnawi's leadership, his SLA faction signed a peace agreement, known as the Darfur Peace Agreement
, with the Khartoum government in May 2006. Nevertheless, fighting has continued with Minnawi's group fighting other SLA factions. In July 2006, fighting broke out around the northern Darfur
town Korma, resulting in the deaths of at least 80 people.
Minnawi was appointed the top Sudanese official in the Darfur region, as chairman of the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority
, and is technically the fourth ranking member of the Presidency, as Senior Assistant to the President of the Republic but has been progressively shut out from power by his "peace partners" of the ruling National Congress Party
(NCP) of President Omar al-Bashir
. Minnawi belongs to the Ila Digen (or Awlad Digayn) clan of the non-Arab, Saharan Zaghawa people.
On September 14, 2006, Minnawi broke ranks with the Sudanese government when he stated that he does not object to the new UN peacekeeping force detailed in UNSC Resolution 1706
.
In December 2010 the Sudan Liberation Movement withdrew from the Darfur Peace Agreement
. Minni Minnawi fled to Southern Sudan and has been dismissed as Senior Assistant to the President of Sudan and as Chairperson of the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority.
North Darfur
North Darfur is one of the 15 wilayat or states of Sudan. It is one of the three states composing the Darfur region. It has an area of 296,420 km² and an estimated population of approximately 1,583,000 . Al-Fashir is the capital of the state...
) is the leader of the what once was the largest faction of the Sudanese Liberation Army until it was weakened by dissention and infighting. A former school teacher, Minnawi was the secretary of Sudan Liberation Army leader Abdul Wahid Nur, before the organization split in 2004.
Under Minnawi's leadership, his SLA faction signed a peace agreement, known as the Darfur Peace Agreement
Darfur Peace Agreement
There have been two Darfur Peace Agreements that have been signed between the Government of Sudan and Darfuri rebel groups which have intended to end the conflict that is taking place in the Darfur region of the Republic of Sudan.-Abuja Agreement :...
, with the Khartoum government in May 2006. Nevertheless, fighting has continued with Minnawi's group fighting other SLA factions. In July 2006, fighting broke out around the northern Darfur
Darfur
Darfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into three federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur...
town Korma, resulting in the deaths of at least 80 people.
Minnawi was appointed the top Sudanese official in the Darfur region, as chairman of the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority
Transitional Darfur Regional Authority
The Darfur Regional Authority is an interim governing body for the Darfur region of the Republic of Sudan. It was established as the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority in April 2007 under the terms of the 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement signed in May 2006.The Transitional Darfur Regional...
, and is technically the fourth ranking member of the Presidency, as Senior Assistant to the President of the Republic but has been progressively shut out from power by his "peace partners" of the ruling National Congress Party
National Congress (Sudan)
The National Congress or National Congress Party ' is the governing official political party of Sudan. It is headed by Omar al-Bashir, who has been President of Sudan since he seized power in a military coup on 30 June 1989, and began institutionalizing Sharia law at a national level...
(NCP) of President Omar al-Bashir
Omar al-Bashir
Lieutenant General Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir is the current President of Sudan and the head of the National Congress Party. He came to power in 1989 when he, as a brigadier in the Sudanese army, led a group of officers in a bloodless military coup that ousted the government of Prime Minister...
. Minnawi belongs to the Ila Digen (or Awlad Digayn) clan of the non-Arab, Saharan Zaghawa people.
On September 14, 2006, Minnawi broke ranks with the Sudanese government when he stated that he does not object to the new UN peacekeeping force detailed in UNSC Resolution 1706
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1706
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1706, adopted on August 31, 2006, after recalling previous resolutions on the situation in Sudan, including resolutions 1556 , 1564 , 1574 , 1590 , 1591 , 1593 , 1663 , 1665 and 1679 , the Council expanded the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the...
.
In December 2010 the Sudan Liberation Movement withdrew from the Darfur Peace Agreement
Darfur Peace Agreement
There have been two Darfur Peace Agreements that have been signed between the Government of Sudan and Darfuri rebel groups which have intended to end the conflict that is taking place in the Darfur region of the Republic of Sudan.-Abuja Agreement :...
. Minni Minnawi fled to Southern Sudan and has been dismissed as Senior Assistant to the President of Sudan and as Chairperson of the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority.