UNHRC appoints new independent expert for Sudan
September 25, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The chair of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva announced that Irish-born Thomas Edward will become the new independent expert on human rights in Sudan to succeed Mashood Badrain.
He also worked as a consultant for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and political adviser to the UN secretary-general during the referendum process for South Sudan.
The new UN expert has three books on Sudan where he worked as a teacher and toured in many of its regions.
Earlier this week, Sudanese justice minister Mohamed Bushara Dousa called on the UNHRC to end the mandate of the independent expert, rejecting accusations by NGOs and Western countries that the country is responsible for committing serious violations of freedoms and human rights, particularly in the conflict-affected areas of Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile.
He further rejected allegations by the outgoing independent expert that Khartoum is dragging its feet in investigating the September 2013 protests and pointed out that the government has submitted to him a detailed report on measures undertaken with respect to those events.
Dousa also questioned the need for extending the mandate of the independent expert saying he has failed to render technical aid to Sudan as the international community also failed to lift sanctions and cancel debts or pressing rebels to stop violations and abuses.
“What is the use of the mandate imposed under article 10? Isn’t it fair to end the mandate and let Sudan like other states apply its laws?” he said.
All eyes are now on the UNRC following Badrain’s report to the council and criticism by western countries and NGOs regarding Sudan’s human rights record.
In Khartoum, the minister of state at the ministry of foreign affairs, Kamal Ismail, said that Sudan’s human rights record is one of the best compared to other countries in the region.
He told reporters on Thursday that Khartoum refuses to receive lectures from others on human rights, adding that the government is aware of plots being formed against Sudan during the current session of UNHRC.
He noted that those who sought to bring up the case of Meriam Ibrahim, the Christian woman who was sentenced to the death after being convicted of apostasy, have negative and premeditated attitudes and wanted to produce negative resolutions against Sudan.
The minister disclosed that Sudan worked with G77 countries to abort any move to place Sudan under renewed monitoring.
(ST)
