New York, Feb. 25 (SANA) U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday announced the appointment of Finland’s Pekka Haavisto as his new personal envoy for Sudan, replacing Algeria’s Ramtane Lamamra, as the country’s humanitarian and security crisis continues to deepen.
The United Nations said Haavisto brings more than four decades of experience in politics and international affairs, having served in several ministerial roles in Finland’s government as well as in senior positions with the European Union and the United Nations. He is currently a member of Finland’s parliament and is widely known for his mediation and conflict-resolution efforts in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East.
Haavisto previously served as the European Union’s special representative for Sudan from 2005 to 2007, where he participated in the Darfur peace negotiations. During that period, he also worked as a senior U.N. adviser on the Darfur peace process, among other international assignments.
U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric expressed concern over the worsening humanitarian situation, particularly in North Darfur, citing reports of continued drone attacks in North Kordofan. He said escalating violence near the border town of Tina along the Sudan–Chad frontier has forced more civilians to flee into eastern Chad, further complicating aid delivery.
Despite the insecurity, humanitarian shipments continue to pass through the Adré border crossing, Dujarric said, with aid agencies coordinating closely with authorities in both Sudan and Chad to ensure the safe movement of supplies and personnel.
