Sudan: UN Special Political Missions Must Respect State Sovereignty

New York – Sudanhorizon

Sudan’s representative to the UN Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization Committee), Abu Zaid Shams al-Din Ahmed, underscored the significant role played by Special Political Missions (SPMs) as a mechanism for preventive diplomacy and the peaceful resolution of conflicts within the United Nations framework.

Addressing the committee on Wednesday, the Ambassador explained that armed militias operating outside state authority—often linked to foreign states or organized crime—pose an additional challenge to the work of Special Political Missions, compounding existing difficulties.

The Sudanese representative emphasized the need for conducting thorough consultations and securing the consent of the host government prior to the appointment of heads of Special Political Missions. He stressed that such missions must support national priorities, respect the sovereignty of the host state, and refrain from interfering in its internal affairs.

Furthermore, the Ambassador noted that a proliferation of competing mediation efforts and initiatives, alongside conflicting interests, serves as a primary obstacle to reaching political agreements and solutions. He urged Special Political Missions to resist the imposition of political choices or “prescriptions” by international donors.

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