Sudan is facing a critical moment in its history as the United Nations political mission in the country, known as UNITAMS, will end on Sunday. The mission was established in June 2020 to support Sudan’s transition to democracy after the ousting of former dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and the subsequent military coup in 2021.
However, the mission’s mandate was terminated by the UN Security Council on Friday, following a request from Sudan’s acting foreign minister last month. The request came amid a war that erupted on April 15 between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over a plan to integrate the forces as part of the transition process.
The war has left thousands of people dead, wounded, and displaced, and has sparked a humanitarian crisis in the country. The UN has warned that violence against civilians in Sudan is “verging on pure evil” and that ethnic violence is escalating in the western region of Darfur. The UN country team providing humanitarian and development aid will remain in the country, but its capacity and access will be limited.
The UN special envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, who was appointed by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last week, has urged all parties to cooperate with him and to resume dialogue to end the conflict and restore the transition. Lamamra is a veteran Algerian diplomat who has experience in mediating regional crises, such as the one in Libya.
The UN, the African Union, and the East African bloc IGAD have been trying to broker a peaceful solution in Sudan, but their efforts have been hampered by the lack of trust and commitment from the warring factions. The international community has also condemned the violence and imposed sanctions and pressure on the military leaders.
Sudan, which has a population of about 45 million people, is a strategically important country in Africa and the Middle East, with rich natural resources and a diverse cultural heritage. Many observers fear that the collapse of the transition and the continuation of the war could have devastating consequences for the country and the region, and could undermine the hopes of the Sudanese people for a peaceful and democratic future.
Source: Reuters
