A United Nations political mission in war-torn Sudan is set to end after the UN Security Council voted to shut it down following a request from the country's acting foreign minister. A war erupted on April 15 between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces after weeks of rising tension between the two sides over a plan to integrate forces as part of a transition from military rule to civilian democracy. The British-drafted resolution passed on Friday terminates the mandate of the UN mission, known as UNITAMS, on Sunday and requires it to wind down over the next three months. UNITAMS was established by the 15-member council in June 2020 to provide support to Sudan during its political transition to democratic rule. "We reiterate that the Sudanese authorities remain responsible for the safety and security of UNITAMS staff and assets during this transition and call for their full cooperation in allowing an orderly withdrawal," deputy British UN Ambassador James Kariuki told the council. Violence against civilians in Sudan is "verging on pure evil", a senior UN official warned last month, as a humanitarian crisis in the country worsens and ethnic violence escalates in the western region of Darfur. A UN country team providing humanitarian and development aid will remain in the country, where the UN says almost 25 million people - half the population - need help. "We affirm the government's readiness to continue constructive engagement with the UN by strengthening co-operation with a country team," Dafallah Alhaj, an envoy to Sudan's army chief Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, told the council. He said the delivery of humanitarian aid was a top priority. The UN special envoy to Sudan announced in September that he was stepping down, more than three months after Sudan declared him unwelcome. Last week UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed veteran Algerian diplomat Ramtane Lamamra as his personal envoy for Sudan. The Security Council resolution encourages all parties to co-operate with the envoy. Australian Associated Press
