UN official urges protection of UNAMID’s liquidation team

December 21, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – The Deputy Head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) urged the Sudanese authorities to return UNAMID assets confiscated by Darfur armed groups.

In June 2021, some signatory groups deployed their forces outside the UNAMID logistics base in El-Fasher to take over the assets on the camp after the end of the ongoing liquidation operation there.

In his reports to the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General stated that the armed groups interfered several times with the movement of the UNAMID personnel and infringed on their security.

Khardiata Lo N’Diaye on Tuesday 21 December attended the handover of the northern part of the UNAMID log base to North Darfur State authorities. Hadi Idris a Member of the Sovereign Council and Nimir Abdel Rahman State Governor took part in the function.

In her remarks on this event, N’Diaye voiced concern about “the safety and security of UNAMID liquidation team and integrity of the assets and emphasized the obligation of the Government to protect UNAMID personnel and take robust measures to prevent any form of threats or violence towards the camp and personnel”.

In a statement released on Tuesday UNITAMS said the two Sudanese officials reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the security and safety of the UNAMID liquidation team and protection of UN assets.

“They also assured that all efforts will be made to engage with former UNAMID national staff who have, for several days, blocked entry into the UNAMID log base in El Fasher,” she added.

The liquidation period of the UN assets and equipment in Darfur will continue until the end of June 2022.

To accomplish the liquidation operations, the former mission still has 2 UN police officers and 360 police personnel, as well as 130 international staff, 155 national staff, 3 temporary positions and 15 United Nations Volunteers.

N’Diaye also discussed the security situation in Darfur and the ongoing efforts to deploy a 3300 strong force in the three troubled states of West, South and North Darfur.

Idris who is El Fasher to oversight the deployment of the force said that the protection of civilians was a priority for him.

He said “They decided to allocate office space within the UNAMID log base for the use of the Permanent Ceasefire Committee and the North Darfur State Protection of Civilians Committee,” reads the statement.

(ST)