UNAMID exit strategy is a challenge for Sudanese diplomacy : envoy
June 27, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s new ambassador to the United Nations Omer Dahab said the African Union United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID’s) exit strategy represents is an important issue for the Sudanese diplomacy in the coming period.
The Sudanese government is working with the African Union and the United Nations on ways to achieve the gradual withdrawal of peacekeepers from Darfur without prejudice to security and humanitarian situation in the region.
But the international organization expressed concern over the rising number of displaced civilians due to government attacks on rebel positions in Jebel Marra, or triggered by the tribal clashes. Since, it shows some reluctance to continue on this exit strategy.
The new representative to the United Nations told reporters in Khartoum on Saturday his government aspires to see the international community adopting a position supporting Sudan’s efforts to achieve stability and security and not to become a constraint for its efforts in this respect.
He stressed that keeping away the political agenda from the joint action is beneficial to Sudan and the others.
“The important issue currently is UNAMID exit strategy from Sudan,” said Dahab noting that there is no peacekeeping mission that stays in a country forever.
The Sudanese diplomat pointed to the “positive developments and success” achieved in Darfur since the signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) in July 2011 and progress reached by the tripartite working team on the exit plan.
He further said that time has come to apply the exit strategy because the situation in Darfur has become safe and stable after the DDPD.
Sudanese officials claim they crushed the insurgency in Darfur and reduced it to some pockets in Jebel Marra area, adding the recent wave of displacement was caused by the tribal violence, and they are taking the necessary measures to remediate the situation.
The African Union Peace and Security Council in a decision endorsed on 22 June called for the resumption of talks on the exit strategy, pointing it should not negatively affect the security and humanitarian situation.
Rights groups and activists say the exit strategy will give carte blanche to the government to implement its plans and affect the human rights and humanitarian situation.
Sudanese officials previously said the exit strategy will allow the closure of IDPs camps and the return of its residents to their villages. Khartoum accuses the rebel groups of seeking to politicize the camps.
(ST)