UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Algerian diplomat Ramtane Lamamra as his personal envoy to Sudan, the UN spokesperson announced on Friday.
Lamamra’s appointment comes amidst the recent termination of the mandate of the United Nations Transition Support Mission in Sudan (UNITAMIS) by the Sudanese government.
Speaking at the UN Noon briefing on Friday, Stephane Dujarric, confirmed Lamamra’s appointment and emphasized the need for continued engagement with all parties involved in the Sudanese conflict.
“And I also want to announce an appointment that has been in the works for some time now. The Secretary-General is also appointing Ramtane Lamamra, of Algeria, as his personal envoy for the Sudan,” Dujarric stated.
He also confirmed that the Secretary-General appointed Ian Martin to lead a strategic review of the UN Mission in Sudan to provide the Security Council with options on how to adapt the Mission’s mandate.
He added that the UN would continue to work closely with the Sudanese authorities, members of the Security Council, and other stakeholders to determine the next steps in the process.
“As you know, of course, it is the Security Council that gives the Secretariat the mandate to operate peacebuilding, political missions and peacekeeping missions,” Dujarric explained.
Lamamra brings extensive experience in diplomacy and conflict resolution to his new role. He served as Algeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2013 to 2017 and again from 2021 to 2023. He also held the position of UN envoy to Liberia between 2003 and 2007, chaired the African Peace and Security Council, and served as Algeria’s ambassador to the UN from 1993 to 1996.
Lamamra’s appointment follows the resignation of Volker Peretz, the former head of the UNITAMIS mission, in September 2023. Peretz’s resignation came amid heightened tensions between him and the Sudanese military leadership, who accused him of lacking neutrality and engaging in political activities beyond his mandate.
Source: Sudantribune
