‘Unamid to leave Darfur while fighting takes place’: Communist Party

The Sudanese Communist Party added its voice to the calls against the reduction of Unamid peacekeeping troops in Darfur.

The 15-member body of the UN Security Council will soon decide to renew the mandate for the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (Unamid) as it expires on 30 June. The Council is expected to adopt the resolution which transforms the Unamid mandate from a peacekeeping to peacebuilding mission in Darfur. It cuts AU-UN military personnel by 44 per cent and police personnel by 30 per cent.

The African Union Peace and Security Council endorsed the decision on 12 June while the UNSC is expected to adopt it on 27 June. In a press statement on Thursday, the Communist Party urged the councils to seriously consider the concerns and risks that are expected in the event that Unamid withdraws.

The decision “will lead to the collapse of the deteriorating security situation in Darfur, and return it to the gross violations of the rights of the people of Darfur and international humanitarian law.

“The withdrawal, at the present time, will disclose the backs of displaced people in the camps and residents of the areas, where fighting is taking place.”

The news evoked condemnations from representatives of displaced people in Darfur and international watchdog Human Rights Watch last week. “The planned cuts reflect a false narrative about Darfur’s war ending,” HRW stated. “The Security Council should leave flexibility for Unamid to respond to evolving threats, and strengthen the mission’s human rights monitoring and reporting capacities.”