Sudan: Military leader says UN mission should mind its own business

Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) – Sudanese military leader, Lt.-Gen. Abdul Fatah Al Burhan, has reiterated that he does not intend to stick to power and would gladly relinquish the reign of leadership once a government is elected or a national consensus is reached among the various stakeholders in the country

In his first ever interview with the National Television since he assumed power in 2019 after the demise of President Omar Bashir, Burhan, who heads the collective presidency - the Transitional Sovereign Council - has, however, made it clear that the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of UNITAMS, Volker Perthes, has no role to play in the Sudanese political scene apart from his role as facilitator.

Volker, head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission Sudan (UNITAMS) “has no right to present any reconciliation or any initiative and he shall work to prepare the environment for the elections, and this is his main task,” Burhan said.

This shows that Burhan is apparently not happy with the current initiative, led by UNITAMS, to try finding a common ground as expressed by the Sudanese themselves and not by his office.

However, in the last two weeks, huge demonstrations mainly orchestered by pro-Islamists and former supporters of Omar Bashir have said UNITAMS was no longer desired in the Sudan and that it was involving itself in the internal Sudanese affairs.

But Burhan told the national TV that he does not favour any political party and that “my only party is the homeland”, saying he would not expect any party or organization to dictate to the Sudanese army what it would do or how it should reorganize its ranks.

He said only an elected government or a "consensually agreed upon national stand" would have that right.

In January 2022 UNITAMS launched what it calls “consultations on a political process for the Sudan: an inclusive intra-Sudanese process on the way forward for democracy and peace”.

The 7-Point on The Consultations for a Political Process for Sudan is aimed at helping Sudanese themselves build a consensus on the way forward and to address the current political impasse and develop a way forward for peace and democracy.

By its mandate, the UNITAMS is mandated to assist in the political transition in the Sudan.

The process included consultations with Sudanese stakeholders like Government, political actors, peace partners, armed movements, civil society, resistance committees, women’s groups, and youth.

The UN itself has no position on the outcome.

But observers believe that the seven-week or so consultations involving the various stakeholders have converged to one point -  the army should be sidelined from the political scene, hence the unhappiness expressed by the army leadership.

It was also clearly stated by UNITAMS that the ousted party of Omar Basir, the National Congress party, would not be part of the process, a matter considered involvement in the internal affairs of the Sudan by pro Bashir supporters, notwithstanding that this was transcribed within the political declaration reached by all stakeholders that ousted Bashir in 2019.

“The UN has no position on the outcome of this process, which will be guided by the views of the Sudanese themselves. We will avail a range of capacities to maximize participation and ensure engagement across the political spectrum and across the country," UNITAMS has said, in its initial statement upon launching the process on January 8, 2022.

 UNITAMS has also stated that the UN is committed to support a civilian-led government as the ultimate objective of the transitional period in Sudan as per its mandate.

“We are likewise guided by the principles of the Organization, including respect for human rights and the centrality of women and youth participation in peace processes.”

Observers also pointed out that it was not clear what Burhan meant when he said he would relinquish power to “consensually agreed upon national stand” which leaves the brackets open for saying a sizeable portion of Sudanese people who are not politically active have not been included in the consultation or that millions of internally displaced persons were not reasonably involved in the process or even people who used to be part of Omar Bashir’s party, but not forcefully leaders within the party, have not been involved in the UNITAMS process and the ensuing political agreement.

It remains to be seen, however, if the whole much publicized interview was not meant in large part to send a message to the UN body in the Sudan.

UNITAMS has not responded to the statement made by Burhan yet.

-0- PANA MO/VAO 13Feb2022