Sudan slams Security Council, threatens to cancel UNAMID mandate
August 2, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan on Tuesday criticized severely a resolution by the UN Security Council (UNSC) extending the mandate of the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) saying it attempts to change the mandate and tarnish the image of the country.
The 15 member council on 29 July voted the extension of the UNAMID for one more year asking the largest peacekeeping operation to make full use of its capabilities and prioritize the protection of civilians; safe, timely and unhindered humanitarian access.
The Council underlined the increase of violence citing clashes between the government and the two Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) factions as well as Justice and equality Movement (JEM). It further asked Khartoum to create suitable conditions to engage a process for political dialogue in Darfur and remove a number of restrictions in freedom of expression and other rights limited by the state of emergency law imposed in the region.
South Africa, Nigeria and Gabon envoys at the UNSC regretted that the Security Council did not decide to launch the Darfur-based Political Process as requested by the African Union. However, the US and UK ambassadors said the Council will consider to launch this process whenever the conditions are improved. They further stressed that the UNAMID had no higher duty than to protect civilians.
Sudan’s foreign affairs minister Ali Karti put out a statement on Tuesday evening saying the resolution included many negative signals and false information. He further accused the UN Security Council of interfering in the Sudan’s internal affairs and distorting the image of the country.
Karti pointed out that his government is not concerned by the additional issues mentioned in Friday’s resolution and will take in account only what is included in the resolution 1796 establishing the UNAMID adopted in January 2008 and the Status of Forces Agreement sealed with the joint mission.
“The Government of Sudan reaffirms that any attempt to impose any new obligation is contrary to what has been agreed upon and will lead to refuse cooperation, and to disengage from any previous obligation related to the acceptance of the mission and its deployment, ” read the statement. Adding “It also confirms that such a resolution and any insistence upon it, will lead the Government of Sudan to reject the mission activities and end its mandate”.
Referring to the provision of visas to UNAMID staff and other logistical problems mentioned in the UNSC resolution, and the airstrikes or the number of displaced persons, the Sudanese minister said all these things were resolved within the tripartite mechanism. Karti also rejected the “erroneous information” on the number of displaced persons in Darfur.
The Sudanese minister in addition refused the UNSC demand to coordinate between the UNAMID, the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
The UN Security Council did not back the launch of the Darfur Political process of the former South African President Thabo Mbeki despite the clear support showed by the African Union. It only recognized “the potential complementary role of a Darfur-based Political Process”.
However, the Council welcomed the newly established Implementation Follow-up Committee (IFC), chaired by the State of Qatar, to support the enforcement of the outcome of the Doha peace document by the Sudanese signatories and to pursue efforts to include the other rebel groups in the peace process.
It also hailed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s intention to develop a road map for the Darfur peace process, and requested him to consult with the African Union, IFC and Sudanese stakeholders.
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Aleu
Sudan slams Security Council threatens to cancel UNAMID mandate
Khartoum government must not fear United Nation.
United Nation are much bigger than tiny Sudan’s North and they have rights to extending the mandate of PeaceKeepers Forxes in any region in the Sudan around. Darfur regions should not be left with dictatorship to continues murdering innocent civilians in the region. If the U.N. Leave just randomly then, they will get more blames by the world that, they fails to protect these civilians and they need to do what is right as a world organization.
Also the U.N. Council must thinks again about this Khartoum government, this regime government will not and must not be left on the earth. This Khartoum government are so aggressiv and must be given good lesson so that, they will respect and knowingly the United Nation is big than their tiny North Sudan government.
mohammed ali
Sudan slams Security Council threatens to cancel UNAMID mandate
Alue,
We are satisfied with the support of our brother in the African Union and it’s support for the peace process in Darfur.They know very well that all of this is away to interfer negatively in our national afairs which we know very well how to protect.
Rest assured that we donnot fear anyone, and we will do only what is best for our people and country!