According to diplomats, the United Nations Security Council is preparing to vote on terminating a political mission in Sudan after the acting foreign minister of Sudan requested the move, criticizing the mission’s performance as “disappointing.” The request came earlier this month.
A war broke out on April 15 between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces following weeks of escalating tension over plans to integrate forces as part of a transition from military rule to civilian democracy.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commented on the situation on Tuesday, describing it as having “two generals that completely disregard the interests of their population.”
When asked if the conflict was a failure of the United Nations or African Union, Guterres responded, “It’s time to call a spade a spade. This is the fault of those that sacrificed the interests of their people for a pure struggle for power.”
The draft council resolution proposes to terminate the mandate of the U.N. mission, known as UNITAMS, on Dec. 3 and requires it to wind down over the next three months. UNITAMS was established by the 15-member council in June 2020 to provide support to Sudan during its political transition to democratic rule.
The draft text “recognises the importance of U.N. agencies, funds and programmes, underlines the necessity of an orderly UNITAMS transition and liquidation in order to ensure the safety of U.N. personnel and the effective functioning of all U.N. operations, including humanitarian and development assistance.”
Despite the termination of the U.N. mission, a U.N. country team providing humanitarian and development aid will continue to remain in the country.
Earlier this month, a senior United Nations official warned that violence against civilians in Sudan is “verging on pure evil,” as a humanitarian crisis in the country worsens and ethnic violence escalates in the western region of Darfur.
U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric emphasized on Thursday that “The United Nations is not leaving Sudan,” and pointed out that despite the political mission, humanitarian colleagues are present in large numbers in Sudan, providing aid to those in need.
In September, the U.N. special envoy to Sudan announced his departure, more than three months after Sudan declared him unwelcome. Last week, Guterres appointed veteran Algerian diplomat Ramtane Lamamra as his personal envoy for Sudan, and the draft Security Council resolution encourages all parties to cooperate with the envoy.
(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
