Sudan (Darfur)

The joint UN-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) is working with Sudanese and local authorities to de-escalate tensions following recent violent incidents in two nearby towns, including a deadly attack on a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs). The peacekeeping mission reported that violence broke out in Kutum, located in North Darfur, on Sunday, while nine people were killed and 20 others injured, when unidentified armed men attacked the Fato Borno IDP camp the following morning. Protestors, mainly IDPs, have been holding sit-ins in front of Government buildings to demand improved security in the region, according to media reports.

The surrender of ex-warlord Ali Kushayb to the International Criminal Court has raised hope that others wanted for crimes in Sudan’s Darfur region could be turned over to the ICC, including former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir.

Protesters backed by Islamists from previous regime gather some 200 metres from army command in Khartoum to protest against newly formed UN mission mandated to support political transition.

The Security Council, in a 4 June videoconference meeting, decided to establish a new political mission in Sudan to assist the country in its transition towards democratic governance, provide support for peace negotiations and bolster efforts to maintain accountable rule of law and security institutions. Unanimously adopting resolution 2524 (2020), the Council decided that the new United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) will provide technical assistance to the Constitution drafting process, supporting implementation of all human rights, equality, accountability and rule-of-law provisions in the Constitutional Document.

The Security Council in a 4 June videoconference meeting extended the mandate of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) until 31 December, deciding that the peacekeeping mission will maintain its current troop and police ceilings during this period.

Activists in Sudan are urging the UN and African Union not to go ahead with plans to withdraw 26,000 peacekeepers from Darfur this year, claiming the move will put lives at risk. The peacekeepers from the AU-UN hybrid operation in Darfur (Unamid), which has a mandate to protect civilians by force if necessary, will leave in October under plans expected to be agreed by the UN Security Council,

Civil society groups and activists called on the Sudanese prime minister to prioritize the protection of civilians in Darfur and to request a revitalized UNAMID or a new broader mission under Chapter VII. … In a petition submitted to the office of the prime minister on Monday 4 May, 98 advocacy and civil society groups, as well as activists from Darfur and other areas, said "strongly opposed" to UNAMID withdrawal … .

About 30 civilians were killed in South Darfur state in intercommunal violence on Tuesday, according to a statement by the office of the Sudanese prime minister.

The three African non-permanent members of the UNSC, known as the A3, have questioned the viability of UNAMID’s exit from Darfur, without calling openly to maintain the hybrid mission.

The “exceptional circumstances” of the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the peace process in Sudan as well as the drawing down of the United Nations mission there, the head of UN peacekeeping updated the Security Council on Friday. … In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the closure of airports, seaports and land crossings along with the suspension of all peacekeeping rotations have severely impacted the African Union-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), rendering “impractical” an effective exit by 31 October.