Sudan Declares UN Mission Chief as Persona Non Grata Amidst Conflict

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Authorities in Sudan have declared Volker Perthes, the head of the United Nations mission in the country, "persona non grata".

The decision came after the accusations from the army chief for his alleged involvement in inflaming the conflict.

The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the decision, stating that the government has notified the UN Secretary-General of Mr Volker Perthes was hereby declared as “persona non grata”.

Continued Mission Operations:

While Perthes has been declared "persona non grata," the UN mission itself will be allowed to continue its work.

Some staff members are stationed in Port Sudan, where they were relocated after the outbreak of fighting between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army in mid-April.

UN Rejects the Declaration:

In response to Sudan's declaration, the United Nations emphasized that UN personnel cannot be deemed "persona non grata."

The UN spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, reiterated that such actions contradict the obligations of states under the UN Charter.

Dujarric also confirmed that Perthes is presently in Addis Ababa.

Support from the UN Chief:

Previously, Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had written a letter blaming Perthes for exacerbating the conflict between the army and the RSF.

However, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed shock at the accusations and expressed his full confidence in Perthes, commending his work as the special representative.

Perthes' Role and Defense:

Volker Perthes, a former academic, has been leading the UN mission in Sudan since 2021.

He has been involved in the country's transition to democracy and the deteriorating relations between the military and the RSF.

Perthes has consistently defended the UN against allegations of inciting the conflict, attributing responsibility to the warring generals.

Accusations and Counter-Accusations:

In his letter to Guterres, al-Burhan accused Perthes of bias and disrespecting Sudan's national sovereignty.

He alleged that Perthes misrepresented the existence of consensus in his reports to the UN.

He also claimed that without the encouragement of Perthes, Hemedti (Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo) would not have initiated military operations.

Both sides involved in the conflict have blamed each other for provoking the violence.

Impact of the Sudan's Conflict:

The ongoing fighting has had devastating consequences for Khartoum and the western region of Darfur.

Lack of access to basic services, such as water and electricity, has affected entire districts of Khartoum.

Additionally, numerous hospitals in combat zones are not functional.

The conflict has led to the displacement of over 1.4 million people within Sudan, with an additional 476,800 seeking refuge in neighboring countries.

UN Mission, Humanitarian Crisis and Aid Efforts:

The International Organization for Migration estimates that more than half of Sudan's population, approximately 25 million people, are in need of humanitarian assistance.

The UN has delivered aid to approximately 2.2 million people since late May.

However, the precarious situation of the UN's presence in Sudan was evident when the Security Council voted to extend the mission's mandate for only six months.

The UN mission was established in June 2020 to support Sudan's democratic transition following the ousting of former ruler Omar al-Bashir a year earlier.

Previously, the mission's mandate was renewed annually for a year, but the recent vote extended it for only six months.

(Courtesy: Al-Jazeera)