Sudan renews threat to terminate UNITAMS if Perthes participates in UNSC briefing
September 11, 2023 (WASHINGTON) – Sudanese government has issued a stern warning, stating it may terminate the UNITAMS mission if its head, Volker Perthes, proceeds with his briefing to the Security Council on September 13 regarding Sudan’s situation and UNITAMS activities between May 7 and August 20th, 2023.
In a letter dated September 8 addressed to Ambassador Ferit Hoxha of Albania, who serves as the Council President for September, Sudanese Ambassador AIharith ldriss AIharith reiterated that Perthes had been declared persona non grata on June 8, 2023. He emphatically underscored Sudan’s sovereign right to determine which foreign nationals can enter and remain on its soil.
Alharith further emphasized their commitment to not obstruct the “UN’s positive engagement with Sudan.” However, he warned that they would boycott the September 13th meeting if Perthes participated.
“As Sudan considers his (Perthes’s) participation in the meeting as a deliberate provocation and an insult to its sovereignty, Sudan would review its position regarding UNITAMS and would regret that it is the only last resort option left to redress the unprecedented and unfair situation which is prevalent at present,” the Sudanese diplomat asserted in his letter, as seen by Sudan Tribune.
During a previous meeting on the Sudanese crisis on August 9, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, and Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, provided the briefing.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, informed reporters after the meeting that the Sudanese government had threatened to end the UN Mission in Sudan if the SRSG participated in this briefing.
The military-led government in Khartoum claims that the UNITAMS head had favoured one of the Sudanese political coalitions, resulting in the exclusion of others.
Since the October 25, 2021, coup d’état, Sudanese Islamist groups have called for the termination of Volker Perthes’ mandate and his expulsion.
The UN Secretariat is contemplating the closure of UNITAMS, originally established to facilitate Sudan’s democratic transition. If the conflict persists, a special envoy might be appointed.
(ST)