“Council to Decide on Future of Sudan Mission”
UN Secretary-General Calls for Decision on Future of UNITAMS Mission in Sudan
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has reiterated his confidence in the UN Security Council (UNSC) and his support for UN Sudan Representative Volken Perthes in the Sudan issue. Speaking to the press after a UNSC session on Sudan, Guterres emphasized that it is up to the UNSC to decide whether to continue the mission of UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) for another term. The mandate of UNITAMS, established in 2021, expires on June 3, 2023.
At the meeting, General Abdulfettah al-Burhan, Chairman of the Sudan Sovereignty Council and Commander of the Army, requested that Guterres nominate an alternative candidate to Perthes. However, the Secretary-General stated that he continues to support the UN Sudan Representative.
Meanwhile, the conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (HDK) has escalated into armed clashes. The army had called for HDK to be integrated into the army within 2 years and tensions have continued to rise since. The HDK was formed as a militia structure during the presidency of Omar al-Bashir to fight against rebels, protect borders, and maintain order in Darfur. However, it has gained an increasingly independent structure and tens of thousands of members.
The UN has stated that more than one million people have been displaced within the country, with 300,000 fleeing to neighboring countries due to the conflicts. The ongoing violence has resulted in 850 deaths and 5,500 injuries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
