Sudan Foreign Minister: First phase of Unamid withdrawal from Darfur ‘smooth’

Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the first phase of Unamid's withdrawal from Darfur has been ‘smooth’.

In response to a question in Parliament on the withdrawal of Unamid forces, Minister of Foreign Affairs Osama Feisal said that the government is following-up the handover until Unamid leaves all areas in Darfur in June 2020.

He explained that 11 of the Unamid sites have been closed and that the military component had been withdrawn and replaced by the Unamid police units formed in Saraf Umra, El Sareif, Korma, Mestri and Kalma.

He added that the mission has been withdrawn from Um Keddada, El Malha, Mellit, Zamzam, Abu Shouk, and El Tina in North Darfur, Tullus and Ed El Fursan in South Darfur, Foro Baranga in West Darfur, and Muhajiriya in East Darfur.

The minister confirmed the handover of these sites to the governments of the states of Darfur and the necessary measures were taken in coordination between the states of Darfur and the centre by increasing the deployment of police, the prosecutions and the rule of law to prevent setbacks.

Destroyed equipment

MPs have accused Unamid of cutting-up and burying a number of its vehicles, as well as other equipment and machinery.

MP Ibrahim Abakar Idris has called for the formation of committee to investigate.

In a response to a question about Unamid's exit, Foreign Affairs Minister Osama Feisal told the Parliament that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had no information on the burial, or destruction, but acknowledged Unamid’s disposing of 26 vehicles according to UN standards.

He pointed out that the disposal of vehicles and machinery are in accordance with the procedures of the United Nations by selling scrap, grant, gift or cut.

Warning

In September this year, following a four-day visit toSudan, a delegation of UK parliamentarians warned that “the rapid withdrawal of Unamid, without a clear plan, puts stability and security in Darfur at risk”.

Following the visit, the parliamentarians said instability and insecurity have remained in Darfur despite the decrease of the conflict. Earlier the delegation released a statement saying that any further reductions to Unamid “should reflect real improvements on the ground”.

‘Unamid motivated to redouble efforts’

In August, Unamid head Jeremiah Mamabolo affirmed that as his mission prepared to exit Darfur, it is “motivated to redouble our efforts ensuring that the people of Darfur are on a firm path to lasting peace and stability”.