Volker Perthes is no longer welcome in Sudan: FM

June 8, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government formally declared that the UNITAMS Head, Volker Perthes, is no longer welcome in the war-torn country.

“The Republic of Sudan’s government notified the United Nations Secretary-General on Thursday, June 8, 2023, that Mr Volker Perthes, the head of UNITAMS, is considered persona non grata and is no longer welcome from today onward,” announced the foreign ministry in Khartoum.

On May 26, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the military-led Sovereign Council, requested to replace Perthes, expressing dissatisfaction with the UNITAMS’s performance. He further attributed this to the style and behaviour of the mission’s chief.

However, the UN Security Council, on June 2, extended the UNITAMS mandate for six months after a strong pleading by UN chief Antonio Guterres in favour of his special representative in Sudan.

In response, the Sudanese ambassador to the United Nations contested the continuation of Perthes in his position, saying that such a decision violates the UNITAMS agreement between his government and the UN.

The military leaders have accused Perthes of aligning with the pro-democratic forces in Sudan, the Forces for Freedom and Change.

“His role is very negative because he falls into a circle of influence that made him go in one limited direction,”  General Yasir al-Atta, a member of the Sovereign Council, stated on May 10.

(ST)