The UN Security Council meets today to discuss the renewal of Unitams, the Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan. This mission, created in June 2020, aims to help the transitional government in Sudan. However, after two and a half years, his future seems uncertain. Indeed, Khartoum wishes to end this mission immediately.
Since its creation, Unitams has faced many difficulties. The Sudanese military did not accept this mission, considering that the former dismissed Prime Minister, Abdallah Hamdok, had acted unilaterally by asking the UN to create this mission without consulting his Council of Ministers or his partners in power. Criticism of Unitams leader Volker Perthès has increased, accusing him of taking sides in the conflict and interfering in the country’s political affairs.
In June 2023, Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declared Volker Perthès persona non grata in Khartoum, demanding his replacement. Faced with this untenable situation, Volker Perthès finally resigned in September of the same year. This resignation is an acknowledgment of failure for the UN, which sees its mission in difficulty in Sudan.
The new UN special representative in Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, has been appointed to succeed Volker Perthès. However, the question of the renewal of Unitams remains unresolved, as its current mandate ends on December 3. Discussions within the UN Security Council will be decisive in determining the fate of this mission.
It is necessary to emphasize the importance of Unitams for Sudan. Indeed, the country is in a period of political and economic transition, following the fall of the Omar al-Bashir regime in 2019. Unitams’ mission is to support the government in this critical period and to help with the implementation of reforms necessary for the stability and development of the country. Its continuation or disappearance will have significant repercussions on the future of Sudan.
In conclusion, the fate of Unitams in Sudan is currently up in the air. Criticism and tensions between the Sudanese military and the UN have compromised the mission, and the renewal of its mandate is uncertain. The UN must find a solution to ensure the continuity of transition assistance in Sudan and support the country in this critical period of its history. The Security Council’s decision will be decisive for the future of this mission and the prospects for stability of Sudan.