Security Council extends UN mission in Sudan for only 6 months

By Betul Yuruk

UNITED NATIONS (AA) - The Security Council extended the UN political mission Friday in war-torn Sudan for six months instead of one year.

The 15-member Council adopted a resolution extending the mission, UNITAMS, until Dec. 3, 2023.

Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan accused UN envoy Volker Perthes of inflaming the worsening conflict in a letter last week sent to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He demanded that Volker be removed.

Guterres and the Security Council reaffirmed full support for UNITAMS, which is led by Volker Perthes.

The Council urged the mission's continued engagement, in full accordance with the principles of national ownership.

The conflict-hit African nation has been engulfed by violence for weeks between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group.