Perthes calls for united international support for Sudan’s new transitional government
March 20, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – Volker Perthes, Head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) called for united international support for the upcoming civilian government and reaffirmed that Sudanese are close to signing a final political agreement.
On Monday, Perthes made a regular briefing to the United Nations Security Council about the UNITAMS’s activities in Sudan and the ongoing political efforts facilitated by the Trilateral Mechanism to end the political crisis and restore a civilian-led government.
“Today, we are the closest we have been to a solution, although challenges remain,” he told the 15-member body and gave a short description of the five workshops to the contentious issues.
The civilian and military signatories to the framework agreement agreed to hold five conferences on the dismantlement of the former regime; the eastern Sudan plight, the Juba Peace Agreement; Justice and transitional justice and security sector reform.
The participants held four broad consultations and will begin the sensitive on in the security reform in the coming few days. They agreed to sign the final political agreement and form a new government by the 11th of April.
Also, Perthes spoke about the huge economic and humanitarian challenges facing the would-be-formed transitional government. In addition, he underscored the need to ensure security, justice and human rights and to achieve peace.
He recalled that the United Nations is coordinating and planning support for the “post-agreement transition phase and the government’s priorities”.
“We already convened an initial discussion with UN agencies, the IFIs (international financial institutions), and donors, to support the priorities of an expected incoming government post-agreement,” he said.
“(…) Collective efforts from the international community are needed now more than ever. It is necessary to support the next government with the required capacity to tackle the major issues that have lain dormant,” he added before stressing “The united support of this Council will be crucial”.
Non-signatories’ demands
In his briefing, the international envoy spoke about the non-signatories who boycott the political process and refuse to sign the framework agreement.
He said there is “little substantive difference” among the main Sudanese political actors including the non-signatories.
“Their main differences with the signatories (are) not about the structures of the transition or the next government, but they wish to ensure their own representation in it”.
“Joining the process and voicing their demands through the final political agreement would be the best way to guarantee this,” he added.
The head of UNITAMS was referring mainly to the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Movement of Minni Minnawi.
The two groups are now leading a coalition named the Democratic Bloc. They call to maintain the 2019 constitutional agreement and include all the political groups in the process.
On Sunday, they reiterated their rejection of the ongoing process and vowed to peacefully resist any government formed on the basis of the current political process.
in his speech at the meeting, Ambassador Robert Wood U.S. Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs called on the Sudanese parties to put Sudan’s national interest first and join hands to realize Sudanese aspiration for freedom, peace, and justice.
“In support of this and recognizing the fragility of democratic transitions, the United States will promote accountability for spoilers – whether military or political actors – who attempt to undermine or delay Sudan’s democratic progress,” he told the meeting.
The Russian Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva, in return, said that the framework agreement was rejected by several significant players.
Evstigneeva further warned against “artificially pushing forward the current political process”, adding it was “counterproductive and unacceptable to exert any external pressure on Sudan, which should resolve its internal issues on its own”.
(ST)