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.  

Sudan's Darfur: Back to the Future

 Foreign Affairs published on 18 September 2023 an article titled "The New Crisis in Darfur" by Alex de Waal.  

New atrocities in Sudan's Darfur region are reminiscent of the genocide that began in 2003.  The difference is that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have replaced the Janjaweed.  A solution hinges now on actions taken by the United Nations, African Union, and United States.

Sudan's Sad History Repeats Itself

 Just Security published on 26 June 2023 a commentary titled "Sudan Today Follows Decades of Justice Denied" by Tirana Hassan.

The brutality Sudanese civilians are enduring today feels like history repeating itself when in the 2010's the military used indiscriminate aerial bombing of populated areas in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile regions.  It is essential to hold those responsible for past crimes to account to deliver a better future for Sudan.  

Sudan's Darfur Headed Backwards

 Foreign Policy posted on 30 December 2021 a commentary titled "How to Stop Darfur's Descent into Darkness" by Volker Perthes, UN special representative for Sudan.

More than 400,000 people have been displaced in Darfur this year and there has been a sharp increase in sexual violence.  The UN peacekeeping mission has ended and been replaced by a smaller political mission.  The UN effort needs more support if it is to maintain peace.  

UN/African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur Comes to an End

 Agence France Presse published on 31 December 2020 a story titled "Peacekeeping Mission in Sudan's Darfur Ends."  On the same day, the United Nations issued an announcement titled "United Nations, African Union Reiterate Commitment to Sudan, as Join Mission Ends Operations." 

The mandate of the hybrid United Nations/African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur, Sudan, ended on 31 December 2020.  In existence since 2007, the nearly 7,000 military, police, and civilian personnel will depart Darfur over the next six months.  

Sudan's Window of Opportunity

Foreign Policy posted on 20 March 2020 a commentary titled "Sudan Has a Window of Opportunity. The West Shouldn't Squander It" by Kenneth Roth, Human Rights Watch.

Civilian leaders in Sudan face a dire economy and recalcitrant security forces as their window of opportunity for a democratic transition narrows. The author argues that the West should give a high priority to helping the civilian leadership succeed.

Sudan's Democratic Transition Depends on Stability in Darfur

World Politics Review posted on 17 March 2020 an analysis titled "Why Sudan's Democratic Transition Depends on Stability in Darfur" by Wibke Hansen, Berlin-based Center for International Peace Operations, and Volker Perthes, German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

The authors say a genuine transition toward a participatory and inclusive political system in Sudan will depend on the fragile balance of power between civilians and the military--between pro-democracy groups, trade unions and civil society activists, on the one hand, and representatives of the military and Islamist ruling elite on the other. But another important element is the transitional government's effort to negotiate an end to armed conflicts across Sudan, including Darfur.

Sudan: UN Security Council and African Union Fault Lines

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) published on 17 July 2019 an analysis titled "Can the AU and UN Find Common Ground on Sudan?" by Priyal Singh, ISS Pretoria, and Daniel Forti, International Peace Institute.

Discord has developed between the security councils of the African Union and the United Nations in their efforts to stabilize Sudan. The African Union has taken a position opposed by two permanent members--China and Russia--of the UN Security Council because of their views on non-interference in member states' internal affairs. The three African non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, and the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, support the position of the African Union. This sets up a potential unfortunate disconnect between the UN Security Council and the African Union.

Is Sudan Ready for Departure of Peacekeeping Mission from Darfur?

The Institute for Security Studies published on 24 June 2019 a commentary titled "Is Sudan Ready for UNAMID's Exit?" by Shewit Woldemichael.

Failure to reach a political solution to the Darfur conflict, increased instability in Sudan, and its suspension from the African Union complicate UNAMID's planned exit from Darfur in 2020.

Trying to End UN Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur

World Politics Review published on 23 July 2018 an analysis titled "Darfur Highlights the Challenge of Shuttering U.N. Peacekeeping Missions" by Richard Gowan, UN University Centre for Policy Research.

The UN Security Council has agreed to slash the number of peacekeepers in the joint UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) by almost half, with a view to closing the mission entirely in 2020. The author explores the difficulties of closing down UN peacekeeping missions in countries where the problems have not been resolved.

Protecting Civilians in African Union Peace Support Operations

The African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) has just published a monograph titled "Protecting Civilians in African Union Peace Support Operations: Key Cases and Lessons Learned" edited by Jide Martyns Okeke, African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, and Paul D. Williams, George Washington University.

The entire document can be downloaded. It includes chapters on protecting civilians in Darfur from AMIS to UNAMID, the African Union Mission in Somalia, Mali, and the Central African Republic.

Failure of the Addis Ababa Talks on Sudan

The Sudan Democracy First Group published on 30 November 2015 a commentary titled "The Failure of the Addis Ababa Talks: Insistence on War, Prevention of Humanitarian Aid and Monopoly on Political Solutions." 

It discusses the suspension of negotiations between the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement North, on the one side, and between the government of Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement and Sudan Liberation Movement Minni Minnawi, on the other. 

Horn of Africa Security Updates

The Institute for Security Studies published its September 2015 Peace and Security Council Report, which provides updates on key security issues in the Horn of Africa.

The report looks at Kenya's plans to relocate Dadaab, the world's largest refugee camp, on the grounds it is a hotbed of al-Shabaab activity.

A field mission to Darfur reports on continuing violence despite the presence of African Union and United Nations peacekeepers.

It is critical of efforts by President Barack Obama to end the civil war in South Sudan during his recent visit to the region.

The report covers the new AMISOM offensive in Somalia aimed at further degrading al-Shabaab.

Sudanese Refugees in Chad

Refugees International published on 9 July 2015 a report titled "Sudanese Refugees in Chad: Passing the Baton to No One" by Michael Boyce and Ann Hollingsworth. 

The authors report that in the face of dramatic food ration cuts, and after years of shrinking support from the international community, aid agencies are pushing these refugees to become self-sufficient and more deeply integrated with their Chadian hosts.  They argue that it is time for the international community to recommit itself to this long-suffering population, and to do so in a sustainable way.

The report is also available in French.

Role of the Police in the AU-UN Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur

The Institute for Security Studies published on 2 April 2015 a study titled "The Role of the Police in UNAMID" by Marina Caparini, Festus Kofi Aubyn, Olivia Victoria Davies, Meressa K. Dessu, and Mateja Peter. 

It examines the role of the police component in the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).  The report focuses on training of Sudanese government police and community policing volunteers in IDP camps and training of UNAMID personnel.  It identifies good practices and makes recommendations for the UNAMID police. 

UN Peacekeeping Force in Darfur Cut Back

A Reuters report carried by The Guardian on 11 March 2015 and titled "Darfur Peacekeeping Force To Be Cut Back Amid Accusations of Incompetence" comments that the UNAMID force is being reduced because of its failure to protect civilians in Darfur.

US Policy on Sudan and South Sudan

Donald Booth, US Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, gave a major policy speech on US relations with both countries at the Atlantic Council in Washington on 9 October 2014.  You can access the podcast and his written remarks titled "U.S. Policy on Sudan and South Sudan: The Way Forward" on the Atlantic Council website.

His remarks on South Sudan were a frank and hard hitting analysis of the failures in that country since independence.  He emphasized the United States remains committed to helping the people of South Sudan.  He was equally critical of the situation in Sudan but set down principles for a normalization of relations. 

U.S. Policy toward Sudan and South Sudan

The House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations held a hearing on 26 February 2014 titled "U.S. Policy toward Sudan and South Sudan."  The hearing, chaired by Chairman Smith, examined the need for a more unified, wider- ranging and proactive policy that can advance long-term U.S. goals in Sudan and South Sudan. 

The full text of the opening statements of each witness is available by clicking the name of the witness.  The witnesses included Donald Booth, special envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, U.S. Department of State; John Prendergast, co-founder, Enough Project; Walid Phares, co-secretary general, Transatlantic Group on Counter Terrorism; and Adotei Akwei, managing director for government relations, Amnesty International US. 

The Limits of Darfur's Peace Process

The International Crisis Group published on 27 January 2014 an analysis titled "Sudan's Spreading Conflict (III): The Limits of Darfur's Peace Process." 

It concluded that "even though the government is distracted by its economic crisis, and the international community is focused on the civil war in South Sudan, there is present need to resolve the contradiction between the piecemeal and comprehensive approaches to peace in Darfur, to look at what is local and what is national and should be transferred to a more comprehensive process."

UN Peacekeeping Profile for Ethiopia

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Addis Ababa published on 16 November 2013 a profile of Ethiopia's peacekeeping participation in UN operations.  It looks at current contributions and also Ethiopia's historic involvement in peacekeeping.  The author is Solomon Ayele Dersso, who is with the ISS office in Addis Ababa.