UNAMID officially ends its mandate despite Darfur protests

Yesterday, the joint United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) released a press statement in which it confirmed its intention to, as of tomorrow January 1, gradually reduce the mission's activity in a secure way and prepare its exit as planned. 

This withdrawal is in accordance with the UN Security Council's resolution No. 2559 that stipulates the UNAMID exit today, December 31. 

The press release explained that the gradual withdrawal will take place in stages, over a six-month period, and will be in line with the United Nations’ regulations and guidelines. The withdrawal includes the removal of all UNAMID forces, vehicles, and equipment as well as the sequential closure of the UNAMID sites and offices “and handing them over to designated entities”.

According to the statement, this process should result in the withdrawal of all uniformed and civilian personnel from Sudan by June 30, 2021, “except for a liquidation team that will finalise any residual issues and complete the administrative closure of UNAMID”.

The United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission (UNITAMS) and the United Nations team in Sudan will continue to support the Sudanese government in mediating tribal conflicts and addressing other security, political, and economic challenges.

Protests

The planned exit of the UNAMID mission has stirred up many protests throughout the country as many fear that, with the mission leaving, security will decrease and violence and crime rates will go up.

Thousands of displaced people from Kalma camp in South Darfur have delivered a memorandum to UNAMID to demand a reversal of the decision to end the mission. They have staged a weeks-long sit-in in front of the UNAMID office in the camp.

The displaced leaders aldo warned against any armed forces entering the camps and called on the UN Security Council to form a committee to determine the current situation and extent of crime and violence in Darfur before starting the withdrawal of the UNAMID mission. 

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