Trilateral mechanism is coordinating efforts to end Sudanese conflict: Perthes
May 16, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – Volker Perthes, the head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission Sudan (UNITAMS), stated that the tripartite facilitation mechanism is coordinating several initiatives to end the armed conflict in Sudan.
Ceasefire talks mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabia are currently underway in Jeddah, with the aim of providing humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by the armed conflict in Khartoum between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
In an interview with Sudan Tribune at his temporary headquarters in Port Sudan on Tuesday, Volker Perthes emphasized that the priority at present is to stop the war and deliver humanitarian aid to civilians, before resuming the political process.
Perthes further stated that they are in contact with the mediators in Jeddah, the conflicting parties, and various Sudanese political forces.
“If a ceasefire is agreed upon, civilian forces will play a role in monitoring it. Additionally, they will participate in any political efforts aimed at stabilizing Sudan,” he said.
Since April 15, close to one million people have been displaced, with 730,000 individuals displaced within Sudan and an additional 220,000 who moved to neighbouring countries.
Jeddah talks
Regarding his non-participation in the Jeddah talks, Perthes pointed out that the ongoing discussions in Saudi Arabia are “technical-military talks”.
However, UNITAMS continues to contribute the necessary expertise to the American-Saudi mediation, he added.
“We have provided input and expertise, but we do not have representatives present. Starting this week, colleagues from OCHA—the UN’s humanitarian coordination agency—are defining the details of a humanitarian ceasefire, particularly in terms of clarifying the requirement of humanitarian agencies and international NGOs to fulfil their mission and provide assistance to affected civilians, hospitals, and health centres.”
The warring parties signed the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians on May 11, but there are few indications that hostilities are diminishing in Khartoum; where the fighting is taking place.
Tripartite mechanism
The international envoy further stressed the importance of the role played by the tripartite mechanism in coordinating the international efforts to stop the ongoing war in Sudan.
He said that all the various international initiatives add a new dimension to the role of the panel, which is tasked with facilitating an intra-Sudanese dialogue to restore a civilian-led transitional government.
He further revealed that he would travel to Addis Ababa on Friday to coordinate with the African Union and IGAD in this respect, underscoring that the Trilateral Mechanism is now required to coordinate regional and international efforts to end the conflict in Sudan.
Perthes also spoke about the efforts of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki to end the conflict in Sudan, referring to the international meeting that gathered the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, in addition to the permanent members of the Security Council on April 20, 2023.
He added that the tripartite mechanism will effectively coordinate all initiatives presented by these countries and regional organizations to ensure the success of the political process.
The Arab League recently proposed to join the regional and international efforts to end the Sudanese conflict and achieve a political settlement.
(ST)