Lessons Learned from Failed UN Civilian Protection Mission in Sudan

 The Stimson Center published in October 2024 a study titled "Civilian Protection in Sudan: Emerging Lessons from UNITAMS" by Julie Gregory.

The United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) began operations in 2020 to assist with civilian protection.  It replaced the more robust UN-AU Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).  UNITAMS was not designed to operate in Sudan's current civil war environment, which forced the evacuation of most of its personnel.  This study offers lessons learned as a result of this failed mission.  

Protecting Civilians in Sudan

 The IPI Global Observatory published on 15 April 2024 a commentary titled "One Year Ago, War Broke Out in Sudan.  What Can Be Done to Prioritize Protection of Civilians?" by Julie Gregory, Stimson Center.

There is no UN entity in Sudan focused on the comprehensive protection of civilians.  The UN can only verify and report human rights violations.  There are few good options for addressing this omission.  The best approach for protection of civilians is to incorporate protection issues into the Jeddah peace process led by Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Sudan at War

 The International Crisis Group (ICG) posted on 21 December 2023 a 42-minute podcast titled "Sudan at War." This is a panel discussion moderated by ICG's President Comfort Ero at the 2023 Doha Forum.  The panelists are US special envoy for the Horn of Africa Mike Hammer, UN special envoy for the Horn of Africa Hanna Tetteh, director of the Sudanese think tank Confluence Advisory Kholood Khair, and ICG Africa director Murithi Mutiga.  

The discussion reflects the situation in Sudan as of a week earlier when there was more optimism about the prospects for a ceasefire.  Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo had agreed in a meeting in Djibouti to accept an unconditional ceasefire that the two generals subsequently ignored.  

There is growing recognition that the African-led peace process is not working, and the UN needs to become more engaged.  Sudan has become a wider problem than one confined to Africa.  The Saudi/US-led peace process has been put aside for the time being.  So far, the belligerents have had no incentive to end the fighting.  The country is on the verge of disintegration.  

UN Political Mission in Sudan Forced to Shut Down

 Aljazeera published on 2 December 2023 an article titled "Security Council Agrees to Terminate UN Mission in Sudan."

Fourteen of the 15 members of the UN Security Council voted to end the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) while Russia abstained.  The government of Sudan demanded the mission be shut down.

UNITAMS was put in place in 2020 to help support a democratic transition in Sudan following the fall the previous year of President Omar al-Bashir.  The UN mission employed 245 people, including 88 in Port Sudan, as well as others in Nairobi and Addis Ababa.  

It Is Up to UN to Protect Civilians in Sudan

 The Middle East Institute published on 13 September 2023 a commentary titled "The UN Must Step Up on Sudan" by Jehanne Henry, a human rights lawyer.  

Aside from providing and coordinating humanitarian assistance, the United Nations has not taken sufficient action to end the war in Sudan.  It is up to the UN to determine how to protect civilians in Sudan from ongoing violence.  

Building Democracy in Sudan

 The European Council on Foreign Relations published on 3 November 2022 a policy brief titled "Back to Barracks: Building Democracy after the Military Coup in Sudan" by Amgad Fareid Eltayeb, a Sudanese politician in Khartoum.

The author concludes that the international community has failed to find a viable political pathway to end Sudan's military coup because it is too focused on working with elites.  It needs to grasp that both military and civilian elites are responsible for failing to open politics to the people of Sudan.  Violence, repression, and unrest are widespread and splits in the military camp threaten to spill over into civil war.  These splits also result in drawing Sudan into regional conflicts in neighboring countries.  

Sudan: Talks Resume between Military and Civilian Faction

 Al-Monitor published on 16 June 2022 an article titled "US, Saudi Arabia Broker Talks to Break Sudan's Coup Deadlock" by Marc Espanol. 

Sudan's military and one civilian faction met on 10 June for talks designed to break the deadlock on transitioning Sudan to civilian government.  The United States and Saudi Arabia brokered the talks, which are ongoing.  The gap remains wide between the two sides (actually three sides as an important civilian faction is boycotting the talks).  

Critique of International Role in Sudan

 Foreign Policy published on 3 May 2022 an analysis titled "How the U.N. and the West Failed Sudan" by Justin Lynch.

The author argues that while Sudan's military and politicias are responsible for the fate of Sudan, the international community's role is a record of the limits of foreign assistance, self-delusion, and negligence.

Sudan's Imperiled Transition

 The US Institute of Peace published on 1 February 2022 testimony titled "Sudan's Imperiled Transition: U.S. Policy in the Wake of the October 25th Coup" by Joseph Tucker.  

In testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Joseph Tucker urges strengthening and making more inclusive the UNITAMS mediation initiative.  He concludes it is not possible to return to the pre-October 25 military coup situation. There will be no stability in Sudan until there is a genuine civilian government and the role of the security sector is firmly decided and implemented.  

Setback in Sudan Mediation Effort

 The Associated Press published on 4 February 2022 an article titled "Sudan Pro-democracy Group Denounces UN Mediation Efforts" by Noha Elhennawy.

In a setback to mediation of the political deadlock in Sudan between the military and civilian protest groups, the Sudanese Professionals Association, an important civilian pro-democracy group, has rejected the initiative led by the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS).

Independent Analysis of Situation in Sudan

 Fanack, an independent online media organization in the Netherlands, published on 28 January 2022 a commentary titled "Sudanese Crisis: Foreign Interests and Agendas."

This is a recent analysis of the complex situation in Sudan from the standpoint of an independent group that specializes in North Africa and the Middle East.

Sudan: Pro-military Protesters Oppose UN-led Talks

 Agence France Presse published on 26 January 2022 an article titled "Sudanese Rally against UN Bid to Resolve Post-coup Crisis."

Sudanese pro-military demonstrators took to the streets of Khartoum to protest against UN efforts to resolve the political crisis in Sudan.  The demonstrators called for the expulsion of the UN mission.  Sudan's Sovereign Council headed by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and key members of the international community welcomed the UN-led dialogue.

Comment:  If al-Burhan supports the UN-led talks, it is not clear who organized the pro-military protesters.    

Call for US to Support Sudan Protest Movement

 Just Security published on 18 January 2022 a commentary titled "For Sudan's Democratic Imperative the US and Others Must Intensify Support" by Dave Peterson, National Endowment for Democracy.

The author argues that the international community must get serious, impose punitive sanctions on military coup leaders, and decisively support the Sudanese people's struggle for freedom.