Sudanese military leader Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan on Friday threatened to expel United Nations special representative Volker Perthes over alleged interference in the country’s affairs, reported The Punch.
In an address to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Monday, Perthes said Sudan was heading toward an economic and security collapse unless its civilian-led transition was restored.
Perthes also pointed out rising crime and lawlessness in Sudan, killing of anti-coup protesters, violence against women by security forces, and increased targeting of activists.
Burhan warned Perthes to stop overstepping the UN mission’s mandate and refrain from blatant interference in Sudanese affairs, as that would lead to his expulsion from the country.
He also urged the UN and the African Union (AU) “to facilitate dialogue among Sudanese and avoid overstepping their mandate,” in a statement released by the armed forces.
Sudan has been facing regular mass protests since the coup, in the face of a violent crackdown by security forces that has killed over 90 people so far, according to medics.
Al-Burhan has implemented a state of emergency and dissolved sovereign councils and transitional ministers since taking power in October last year.
The coup put an end to a fragile power-sharing agreement between the military and civilians after the removal of President Omar al-Bashir in 2019. Bashir had ruled the country for around three decades.
Perthes said the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission Sudan, along with the AU and regional bloc IGAD, have agreed on joint efforts to facilitate Sudanese-led talks.
The Friends of Sudan, a group including the United States, Britain, and the European Union, have also come forward to support the latest efforts to facilitate dialogue.
The group has called for the restoration of the civilian-led transition that had followed the 2019 ouster of longtime autocrat Omar Al-Bashir as it would pave the way to restore economic assistance and international debt relief.
