Sudan allows expelled UN coordinator to remain for one month

December 31, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government accepted to allow the expelled UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) to carry out his duties until the end of January, said the UN chief on Tuesday.

Ban Ki-moon condemned the decision of the Sudanese government to expel the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country director and a Dutch national Yvonne Helle and UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator Ali al-Za’atari of Jordan, and called on Khartoum to desist from this decision.

London and Washington also called on Khartoum to reverse its decision stressing that it is “detrimental to Sudan’s relations with the international community and to the protection and well-being of the people of Sudan.”

“The Government has agreed to extend the deadline for the RC/HC’s departure from 2 January until the end of the month. Discussions on this issue continue,” said a statement released by the spokesperson of the secretary general.

The statement underlined that the United Nations have been engaging with the Sudanese authorities “at several levels to obtain a reversal of its decision”.

Ban pointed that the expulsion constitutes a “serious loss” and negatively impacts the growing humanitarian needs in Sudan.

The UN Security Council Tuesday discussed the expulsions of the two international diplomats but failed to take a position as the 15-member body was divided on the matter.

Khartoum said committed to collaborate with the international institution, stressing that its sovereign decision was based on behaviour of the two UN officials.

In the past, Sudan expelled, the former RC/HC Mukesh Kapila in 2004 and the former UN special envoy for Sudan Jan Pronk in 2006. Both were accused of criticising the government policy in Darfur.

(ST)

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