Sudan delays visa renewal for UNITAMS team member
May 22, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese authorities have delayed visa renewal for UNITMAS senior officials in Sudan forcing them to leave the country for fear of being undocumented, Sudan Tribune has learnt.
Rosalind Marsden, Former British Ambassador and European Union Representative to Sudan who is now a senior staff member of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) left Sudan recently due to a delay in visa renewal.
“Marsden is out of Sudan currently,” a UN official confirmed to the Sudan Tribune under the cover of unanimity.
“The Sudanese authorities did not “refuse a visa”. But because the visa renewal process was taking so long, the UN requested an exit visa, which was issued,” the source further said.
UNITAMS has come under fire for its reporting to the UN Security Council about the grave human rights violations committed by the security forces after the coup d’état of October 25, 2021.
Early last April, the head of the military-led Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan threatened to expel UNITAMS Head Volker Perthes accusing him of inference in Sudan’s internal political affairs and negligence of the core of his mandate.
When asked by the Sudan Tribune, UNITAMS official spokesman denied the rumoured reports about visa denial to UN team members.
“The Sudanese authorities have not refused any entry visa application for UNITAMS staff members,” Fad Qadi told the Sudan Tribune.
“We continue to work with all relevant authorities to grant approvals for our work in Sudan,” Qadi added.
The acting foreign minister last Thursday stated that his government does not target the UN political mission in Sudan or its head.
Ali al-Sadiq further said they want the UN political mission to do more in peace implementation and preparation for elections.
Marsden has been tasked with the peacebuilding process, community-level reconciliation and grass-roots peacebuilding initiatives.
She took part in the recent consultations the UNITAMS conducted to prepare for the dialogue process to end the political crisis in Sudan.
On Tuesday, May 24, the UNITAMS head will brief the Security Council on the situation in Sudan during the past three months.
(ST)