Media Home
UN Web TV
UN PhotoSecurity Council
Sudan - Security Council Open VTC
Sudan’s Speaker Highlights Juba Peace Agreement, amid Discussion of Transition from Hybrid Operation to New United Nations Presence
Officials briefing the Security Council today called for international support for Sudan as it advances in the face of complex challenges, outlining that country’s recent political progress and the transition from the African Union‑United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) to a newly mandated presence.
“It is incumbent on all of us to support Sudan in its efforts to achieve democratic governance, economic prosperity and an inclusive society for all Sudanese,” emphasized Rosemary DiCarlo, Under‑Secretary‑General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.
Delivering the first briefing on UNAMID’s transition to the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), she said that since her last briefing, in September, progress towards a democratic transition has included the amendment of the constitutional document following the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement in October that expands the Sovereign Council and further defines representation in the transitional legislature. The latter’s formation has been postponed until 31 December, she noted.
Introducing the Secretary-General’s latest reports on the situation (documents S/2020/1155 and S/2020/1115), she stressed that all political stakeholders will need to engage in constructive consultations to ensure the creation of an inclusive and representative body that reflects Sudan’s social and political diversity and ensures the significant representation of women.
Despite the progress, however, political tensions are increasing, particularly over the timeline for creating the legislature, she reported, citing also the mandate of the Council of Partners of the Transitional Period, established on 1 December. Some think it undermines other defined bodies and includes little representation of women and young people, she said. Echoing calls for swift formation of the legislative body, she expressed hope that consensus can be found on clearly defined, inclusive and effective transitional institutions. In that regard, she welcomed efforts by civil society and the transitional Government to promote gender equality. The dire economic situation, exacerbated by COVID‑19, continues to cast a dark and long shadow over all these efforts, she added, underlining the importance of international assistance in that regard.
She went on to report that UNITAMS began to deploy to Khartoum in October, adding that, following consultations with the transitional authorities, the Mission will have a light footprint, and focus on the outlined in resolution 2524 (2020): support to the political transition, peace processes, peacebuilding, civilian protection and the rule of law, while mobilizing development and humanitarian assistance. It will provide good offices, technical support and capacity‑building, see said, noting that it will leverage the work of the United Nations country team through a fully integrated approach that will begin delivering on its strategic objectives by 1 January 2021. In that context, she urged the transitional Government to finalize the status‑of‑mission agreement. Welcoming Government civilian‑protection plans, including the deployment of a force for that purpose in Darfur, she pledged that lessons learned from UNAMID will help to shape the new Mission’s assistance in that area, emphasizing that effective protection will only be achieved by building sustainable peace through full implementation of the Juba Agreement.
Delivering a second briefing, Jean‑Pierre Lacroix, Under‑Secretary‑General for Peace Operations, said that the joint special report’s recommendations should be considered in the broader context of milestone political developments, such as the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement on 3 October and the Government’s national plan on civilian protection. They constitute a solid basis to address the root causes of the conflict in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan, and create the necessary institutional framework for parties to the Peace Agreement to jointly assume primary responsibility for protecting civilians. Welcoming the transitional Government’s firm and unequivocal resolve to assume responsibility for protecting civilians, he said the national plan is a comprehensive document, based upon which UNITAMS and the United Nations country team can develop a complementary support strategy going forward. The transitional Government has begun to deploy a civilian protection force to Darfur, he added, noting that its size and reach are intended to surpass those of UNAMID.
Darfur, however, saw a spike in clashes involving the Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid elements as well as intercommunal violence during the reporting period, he said. The situation in camps for the internally displaced - such as Kalma in South Darfur, Sortony in North Darfur, and Hamadiya in Central Darfur, as well as the areas around Golo in the Jebel Marra region - will be of particular concern, he emphasized, pointing out that Government forces do not yet have a sustained presence, or even access. He expressed hope, however, that the Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid group’s recent positive indications of potential involvement in the peace process could help change dispositions within its constituency.
He went on to recall that the tripartite mechanism recommended UNAMID’s termination at the end of its current mandate, 31 December 2020, and a six‑month period of drawdown and liquidation thereafter. Underlining the need to coordinate international support for efforts by the transitional Government and parties to the Juba Peace Agreement in providing protection, particularly to its civilian protection force, he said that if the Security Council decides to terminate UNAMID’s mandate by 31 December 2020, its remaining contingents will be dedicated to the protection of Mission personnel, team sites and assets, while preparing for exit. The onus is on the transitional authorities and the relevant institutions to respond to any security incident, as UNAMID will be unable to intervene in such cases after 31 December, he stressed.
It is also critical that the transition sustain peacebuilding gains, he continued. The drawdown period should factor in ways for the United Nations and its country team to help the transitional Government maintain peacebuilding support to further enhance the protective environment, so as to prevent relapse into conflict in fragile communities. Coordinated political advocacy is required in support of an orderly and safe drawdown and closure of team sites, he stressed, pointing out resistance from State authorities and local communities to UNAMID’s removal and withdrawal of assets and equipment from team sites. If the drawdown process is further accelerated, it would be essential that the Government provide further concrete support at all levels to facilitate and assist in the drawdown process.
“There is a real opportunity to end the decades‑long conflict in Darfur through implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement,” he said. “The immediate peace dividends, the permanent ceasefire and the deployment of the joint security‑keeping forces will change the dynamics on the ground and enhance the ongoing Government efforts to gain the confidence of the local communities.” He went on to reiterate his appreciation for the African Union in managing the unprecedented hybrid Mission. “There were trying times in the history of UNAMID, but we believe that the presence of the Mission averted large‑scale violence in the difficult terrains and operating environments that it has faced,” he said, concluding: “It is the responsibility of the transitional authorities of Sudan and the parties to the Juba Peace Agreement, with the support of the international community, to safeguard the gains made in the history of UNAMID.”
In the final briefing, Atul Khare, Under‑Secretary‑General for Operational Support, noted that UNAMID deploys more than 6,000 military and police personnel, most of them within 22 contingents. More than 1,500 remaining civilian staff includes about 700 international staff, spread across the logistics and operations base in El Fasher, UNAMID headquarters in Zalingei, and 13 team sites in Darfur, as well as Khartoum and Port Sudan. The 22 contingents represent immeasurable value in equipment deployed by contributing countries, and more than 10,000 Mission assets, plus remaining inventory, he said, estimating that an orderly and safe drawdown of such magnitude will clearly take no less than 6 months, followed by a period of asset disposal and liquidation that will last from 9 to 12 months. It will require the full cooperation of the transitional Government and local authorities, he added.
A compressed timeline and the inherent logistical challenges of closing the various team sites, he continued, as well as repatriating uniformed personnel and their equipment, separating or reassigning remaining staff, and properly disposing of the Mission’s assets will be an enormous task. Moreover, Darfur is landlocked, he pointed out, explaining that UNAMID relies on a single medium‑sized runway to support strategic passenger movements. The movement of equipment and inventories across vast distances, both within Darfur, and from the region to Port Sudan, will be critical to the drawdown’s success, he stressed.
Now reliant on force protection provided by contingents as the backbone of its security arrangements, he said, UNAMID will increasingly rely on the transitional Government to provide security for the Mission’s staff and assets during the drawdown. The Council may wish to consider options to maintain a modest, inwardly focused guard‑unit capability during the drawdown, he said, adding that may be very important as Sudanese security forces focus on protecting civilians. The pending challenges increase the strategic risks of a protracted drawdown and closure, he cautioned.
After a tripartite mechanism meeting in October, he recalled, the Department and the Mission reviewed and updated UNAMID’s drawdown and closure planning in preparation for termination of the mandate on 31 December. One day was dedicated to establishing a coordination mechanism. “The challenge remains daunting,” he said, expressing hope that the streamlined coordination mechanism will help to meet the challenges outlined today. “But it must be augmented by ongoing engagement with the Government, at the political level,” he emphasized. He went on to stress that the transitional Government’s continued full cooperation will be critical to establishing UNITAMS as UNAMID is closed. Noting that nearly 30 temporary staff have been recruited for the new Mission, he said the United Nations remains reliant on the transitional Government to promptly process requests for visas.
Council members then took the floor, with some welcoming the political progress in Sudan, including the Juba Peace Agreement and commitments by the transitional Government on civilian protection and governance reforms. Others warned against too hasty a drawdown of UNAMID in the face of violent incidents in Darfur and other challenges to the protection of civilians, alongside the deteriorating the economic situation, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
For a successful transition to UNITAMS, the new Mission must be operational as soon as possible, with its leadership, as yet unnamed, appointed without delay, speakers emphasized. Sudan’s representative pledged the transitional Government’s commitment to working with UNITAMS, affirming its support for the 1 January transition and thanking all involved with UNAMID for their contribution to “a historic mission”.
For further details please see SOURCE below.
MEETINGS COVERAGE
