NEW YORK: At the request of Sudanese officials, the UNSC on Friday ended the world body’s political mission in the African nation ravaged by over seven months of war between two rival generals.
Taking note of a letter from Sudan demanding an urgent end to the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan, the UNSC approved a resolution sacking its mandate as of Sunday. Starting Monday, a 3-month transition phase would start to permit for the departure of UNITAMS officials and the transfer of its assignments to other UN departments “where suitable and to the extent practicable.”
The UN mission in the African country employs 245 persons, including 88 in Port Sudan, others in Nairobi and Addis Ababa, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said last month. 14 of the council’s 15 members approved the resolution, while Russia abstained.
UNSC Puts End to Mission in Sudan
In the text, the UNSC expressed “alarm at the continued violence and humanitarian condition, in particular violations of global humanitarian law and serious human rights violations and misuses” in Sudan. The resolution called on all sides to “immediately stop hostilities, enable humanitarian access… and seek a negotiated resolution to the crisis.”
The United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan was put in place in 2020 to assist a democratic transition in the African country after the fall the previous year of Omar Al-Bashir, who faced pressure from both the army and protests.
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But in October 2021, the hard path to civilian administration was cut short, when the country’s army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan took complete authority in a coup. And, eventually, on April 15, before an agreement on resuming the transition to democracy could be inked, war erupted between the army led by General Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
A few weeks later, General Burhan said that UNITAMS head Volker Perthes be dismissed, placing blame for the wave of violence on his shoulders. The diplomat stepped down from the position in September, and has not been replaced by anyone.
Last month, adding the UN mission had been “disappointing,” the government of Sudan demanded its immediate end, leaving the UNSC with virtually no choice but to pull out, as the UN should operate with the host country’s consent.
Just days ago, UN Chief Antonio Guterres rejected all allegations made against the UN body, pointing a finger at Daglo and Burhan, “two rival generals that completely disregard the interests of people in Sudan.”
The current civil war has left over 10,000 people dead since April in Sudan. Around 6 million people have been displaced, and huge infrastructure destroyed due to war in Sudan, the UN adds.
