The UN Special Envoy to Sudan, Volker Perthes, announced on Wednesday that he will resign from his position. This follows more than three months after Sudan declared him unwelcome in the conflict-ridden country. Perthes told the UN Security Council on Wednesday, "I am grateful to the Secretary-General for giving me this opportunity and for his trust in me, but I have asked him to relieve me of this task," after serving for two and a half years in the role.
Perthes warned on Wednesday that "what began as a conflict between two military factions could turn into a full-blown civil war." He stated in the 15-member council, "There is no longer any doubt about who is responsible for what" in the conflict. In his last briefing to the council, he added, "Those with the air power often conduct indiscriminate airstrikes, which is the Sudanese army. Most of the sexual violence, looting, and killings occur in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces, carried out by the RSF and their allies or overlooked by them."
He also mentioned that both sides are detaining and holding "even torturing civilians" and that there are reports of extrajudicial killings. Sudan declared Perthes a persona non grata in June. Since then, Perthes has been operating from outside Sudan. The UN stated at the time that its staff could not be considered unwelcome persons.
