On 31 December 2020, the joint African Union and United Nations peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) established in 2007 to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian assistance in Darfur ended its mandate. This news came only days after the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2559, confirming the decision to close the UNAMID mission. From 1 January 2021, all civilian and uniformed personnel are to withdraw from the region during a phased, six-month drawdown period.
The mission was originally deployed to Darfur to help end the conflict that erupted in the region in 2003. The main conflict had been between former president Omar al-Bashir’s governmental-backed forces and rebel groups. Before peacekeeping forces arrived in Darfur, an estimated 300,000 people were killed, and 2.8 million people were displaced because of the conflict.
Since then, the war has largely subsided. In April 2019, Al Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court under charges of genocide and war crimes, was ousted from power after months of continuous protests.
The current transitional government is fragile, though. Ethnic and tribal clashes occasionally flare up despite the October 2020 peace deal between the government and some of the rebel groups. One of the main rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), refused to accept the peace deal and they retained significant support in Darfur.
The ending of the peacekeeping mission has sparked widespread criticism and protest due to fears of the power vacuum that may be left once the UNAMID forces are all withdrawn.
SUCCESSES AND SHORTFALLS OF THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION
The most notable success of the peacekeeping mission is the end of the mass killings. Moreover, the mission helped establish some stability in the region and it gave access to humanitarian aid for millions in Darfur.
Though, when it came to monitoring, reporting, and deterring human rights violations in the region, UNAMID had a very poor record. The mission has been criticised for failing to stop violent attacks, and there have been a number of allegations of misconduct against UNAMID over the years. The mission has been criticised for not providing accurate and timely information about the region, and there have been calls for an improved monitoring and reporting structure. Unfortunately, budget cuts left the existing personnel for UNAMID staff stretched thin and unable to effectively perform their duties.
However, pulling the peacekeeping mission out of the country does not solve the region’s issues. Notwithstanding the criticism of the mission, many believe that UNAMID cared and acted as an effective deterrent to militia groups in the region.
The decision to withdraw the mission followed years of downsizing under pressure from the former Sudanese government and the desire of Western governments to reduce costs.
The current prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, sent two letters to the United Nations requesting formation of a new mission that covers the entire territory of Sudan with a focus on peacebuilding instead of peacekeeping.
TRANSFER OF DUTIES
The United Nations and the Sudanese government have tried to reassure the people in Darfur that the Sudanese government will assume the role in supporting the country’s peace process. Moreover, the United Nations will continue to support the country via the UN Country Team and the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission—however, this has not quelled fears.
Citizens in Darfur remain deeply distrustful of government forces, especially the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF is partly made up of Janjaweed militias—the same militia that perpetrated violent attacks against the people of Darfur for so many years.
Worryingly, the withdrawal of UNAMID forces has led to renewed violent attacks. These attacks have left more than 80 dead and over 8,000 displaced. Moreover, since the beginning of 2021, heightened unrest and an increased number of thefts have also been reported. These events give a glimpse of the potential detrimental impact of complete withdrawal of peacekeeping forces.
The withdrawal efforts have only just begun, and leaving a volatile region like Darfur without establishing a strong structure to take over to adequately stabilise the region does not bode well for the future of the region.
The region needs a well-funded, well-structured peacekeeping force that can protect it from further violence. Access to humanitarian aid and an improvement to the region’s human rights monitoring and reporting is essential—without these safeguards in place, future violence is likely on the horizon.
Isabelle holds a MA in International and Comparative Commercial Law at SOAS, University of London and just completed her LLM in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Law, Leeds. Her focus lies on areas such as dispute resolution, the international tribunals and the use of force. She has experience working with refugees in South Africa and the Hague, Netherland.