Sudan reiterates threats to cancel UNAMID mandate
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August 17, 2011 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan has once again threatened to expel
the UN-AU Joint Peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) over the
contents of a UN Security Council’s resolution extending the mission’s
mandate.
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In this Thursday, July 14, 2011 photo released by the African Union/UN
Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID), UNAMID Rwandan troops escort
returneesduring a repatriation operation for more than 200 displaced
families returning from Aramba to their original village, Sehjanna,
north Darfur, Sudan (AP PHOTOS)
UNAMID, the world’s largest UN-funded peacekeeping operation, was
established under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter with a
mandate to carry out robust protection of civilians in Sudan’s western
region and an authorized strength of 26,000 military and police
personnel.
On 29 July, the 15-member UN Security Council voted the extension of
UNAMID for one more year, asking the world’s largest peacekeeping
operation in Sudan’s troubled region to make full use of its
capabilities and prioritize the protection of civilians; safe, timely
and unhindered humanitarian access.
The resolution 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.
Sudan has quickly denounced the resolution, saying it attempts to
manipulate the mission’s mandate and tarnish the image of the country.
In an interview with the subtly pro-government newspaper Al-Ray al-Amm
on Wednesday, Sudan’s foreign minister Ali Karti challenged UNAMID’s
to act on the seventh chapter under which it was established.
According to Karti, UNMAID forces existing in Darfur move under the
protection of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the mission
frequently asks the army to secure routes for peacekeepers to take.
He further pointed out that the government had officially informed
UNAMID that its forces will not be allowed to stay unless according to
the former agreement on its establishment between Sudan, UN and AU.
Meanwhile, Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has vowed to
use all possible means to oppose the UN’s Security Council on the
extension of UNMAID’s mandate.
In a press conference in the capital Khartoum on Wednesday, the NCP’s
secretary of political mobilization Haj Magid Siwar said that the
resolution was nothing but an episode in a trend of attempts to
fragment Sudan and debilitate its government.
In Siwar’s view, the resolution contains negative aspects that
contradict what is happening in Darfur. Siwar further revealed that
the Sudanese ministry of foreign affairs intends to conduct contacts
with the African Union to curtail the resolution and mobilize the
public opinion in Darfur against it.
(ST)
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