UN Secretary-General Appoints Personal Envoy for Sudan Amid Termination of UNITAMS

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed has on Friday appointed Ramtane Lamamra of Algeria as a personal envoy for Sudan in response to Khartoum’s demand to shut down the UN political mission.

The appointment coincided with Khartoum’s official announcement of the termination of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS).

The decision to terminate UNITAMS was conveyed to UN Chief Antonio Guterres through an official letter on Thursday.

Sudan’s Foreign Minister Ali Elsadig Ali informed Guterres of the government’s immediate decision to end the mission.

In the letter, the Sudanese government expressed its dissatisfaction regarding the progress of UNITAMS.

Despite the termination, Khartoum has assured of its commitment to continue to work “constructively” with the United Nations.

Responding on behalf of the UN chief, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, stated that the UN will continue to engage closely with all actors, including the Sudanese authorities and members of the Security Council, to clarify next steps.

He emphasized the role of the Security Council in authorizing peacebuilding, political missions, and peacekeeping missions, noting that the Secretariat operates under the mandate granted by the Council.

UNITAMS, established by the Security Council in June 2020, was tasked with aiding the military government in Khartoum’s transition to civilian rule following the ousting of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in 2019.