Tensions have surged between Sudan's junta and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), with the former requesting the immediate termination of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (Unitams). The leaked letter addressed to the security council, dated November 16, conveyed Sudan's decision to terminate the political mission in the country, further exacerbating the strained relations between Khartoum and the global body.
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Al-Harith Idriss al-Harith, the Sudanese Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, conveyed in the letter that he had received instructions from Foreign Minister Ali al-Sadiq to end the mission with immediate effect. The move places the fate of Unitams in the hands of the UNSC, as the mission, established in 2020 to aid Sudan's transition to civilian rule, faces an uncertain future following the junta's call for termination.
The simmering dispute saw the head of Unitams, Volker Perthes, resign in September after Sudan accused him of bias, culminating in a diplomatic standoff. Addressing an open briefing at the council in September, Perthes expressed gratitude for his service but urged the secretary-general to relieve him of his duties. Sudan had previously warned of severing ties with Unitams if Perthes spoke at the September council session, subsequently withdrawing his diplomatic credentials in June over allegations of bias and misleading reports on peace efforts in the country.
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The call to terminate Unitams coincides with a period of ongoing conflict, as Sudan has been embroiled in war since clashes erupted on April 15 between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, resulting in a significant loss of life and a large-scale displacement of people. Perthes had highlighted the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the need for accountability for the crimes committed by both warring factions and underscoring the imperative for them to end the conflict for the well-being of the Sudanese people.
With Sudan's call to terminate the mission, the future of Unitams and its mandate from the UNSC comes under scrutiny, setting the stage for a potentially decisive development in the ongoing dispute with Khartoum. The evolving situation underscores the complexities and diplomatic challenges intertwined within the global response to conflict-ridden regions and the critical role of international missions in peace and stability efforts.
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-GHANA WEB- "Sudan asks UN to terminate political mission"
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