The United Kingdom applauds the adoption of Resolution 2636, which extends UNITAMS’ mandate and allows the Mission to continue providing critical assistance to Sudan at a time when the country is grappling with economic, humanitarian, and security crises exacerbated by the 25 October coup, and the country’s future is in jeopardy.
As penholders, we would have preferred the Council to pass a formal resolution endorsing UNITAMS’ important work. Its role in enabling a Sudanese-led effort to restore a civilian-led transition to democracy, alongside the African Union and IGAD.
A genuine resolution would have also allowed UNITAMS to alter its priorities to reflect Sudan’s own desire for more assistance on topics like DDR, transitional justice, and civilian protection.
It is unfortunate that the Council was unable to reach an agreement on a substantive resolution this time. We hope that in the future, all Council members would prioritize support for the missions that this Council establishes, allowing them to carry out the mandates we provide them most efficiently.
Sudanese stakeholders’ actions and decisions in the coming weeks and months will determine whether Sudan returns to dictatorship and violence, or re-establishes a clear path to the democracy, peace, and prosperity that its people deserve.
We applaud the recent removal of the state of emergency and the release of detainees as critical measures toward fostering political discussion.
However, we reaffirm our appeal for the Sudanese government to go further in protecting civil and political rights and halting the use of disproportionate force against protestors. This is especially crucial as the country commemorates the massacre of June 3rd.
The UK further reiterates its complete support for the UN-AU-IGAD-facilitated process and calls on all players to engage unreservedly in order to guarantee that Sudanese people get the democratic, peaceful, and prosperous future they desire.
