Jan 2, 2021(Nyamilepedia) — The United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur ended its 13 years’ mission of peacekeeping in Darfur and the vast Sudanese region on Thursday 31st December 2020.
UNAMID team leader in Darfur said that Thursday was the last day of their mandate after which UNAMID’s troops and police personnel will focus on providing security for the Mission’s drawdown activities, personnel and assets.
“The last day for UNAMID is tonight at midnight,” said UNAMID’s team leader in Darfur office Islam Khan. “UNAMID will not have any protection mandate after December 31, 2020.”
In a joint statement on Thursday, the Secretary-General António Guterres and the Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat called on all Sudanese actors to ensure the safe and orderly drawdown of African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) over the next six months and the ensuing period of liquidation.
“The establishment of this unique hybrid mission was a historic undertaking, through which both organizations and a number of troop and police contributing countries and donors have been engaged in collective efforts to protect civilians and help build peace in Darfur,” the statement said.
“The Chairperson and the Secretary-General reiterate their commitment to continue assisting the Government and people of the Sudan in consolidating the gains made in the peace process and implementing the National Plan of Action on Civilian Protection,” it added.
Last week, the 15-member Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to terminate the mission, outlining a six-month phased pull-out of troops with a complete withdrawal by June 30.
The mission was deployed in Darfur in 2007 to end a bitter conflict that erupted in the western region in 2003 between government forces and rebel groups.
According to the UN website of the peacekeeping mission, there are currently some 4,000 troops, 480 police advisers, 1,631 police, 483 international civilian staff and 945 national civilian staff on the ground.
UNAMID will have a period of six months to undertake the drawdown, which will be conducted in a phased manner which will involve repatriating troops, their vehicles and other equipment, separation of international and national staff as well as a sequential closure of Mission’s team sites and offices and handing them over to designated entities in line with United Nations rules
