Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok announced the completion of the formation of the National Mechanism for Protection of Civilians on Friday, which marked the 65th anniversary of the country’s independence, reported The Business World.
“The formation of the national mechanism for the protection of civilians has completed,” said Hamdok in a speech addressed to the Sudanese people.
He added that the mechanism includes a joint force from the regular forces and the peace parties that will work to achieve security and stability for the people of the country.
The Sudanese prime minister vowed to provide protection for all the civilians. He said that the national mechanism would work to impose security in all parts of the country, stop the extrajudicial killing, and prevent impunity.
Meanwhile, Hamdok also announced the Council of Ministers’ ratification of the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
He said the joint meeting of the Sovereign Council and the cabinet will ratify the conventions to become effective.
The announcement of the formation of the national mechanism came days after the end of the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) mandate in Sudan. The Security Council had established UNAMID in July 2007, following a bitter conflict in the region.
Last month, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution that ended UNAMID’s mandate on Dec. 31, 2020. The withdrawal of all the UNAMID personnel is expected to be finished by June 30, 2021, except for a team that will leave only after finalizing any residual issues and completing the administrative closure of UNAMID.
The UN has decided to deploy the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan to assist the political transition in the country at Prime Minister Hamdok’s request.
