UNAMID withdrawal may increase Darfur contestation

Significance

The resolution was a stopgap, as COVID-19 restrictions prevented the UNSC from meeting to discuss whether to replace UNAMID with a new political and peace support mission, expected to be named the UN Political and Peacebuilding Integrated Mission in Sudan (UNPPIMS).

Impacts

• Military leaders’ control over the defence and interior ministries will give them significant influence over security in Darfur.
• UNAMID’s withdrawal could be used to justify a modest increase in government security spending, despite financial stresses.
• The new mission’s exclusively UN mandate could alleviate the inefficiencies and coordination difficulties with the AU that UNAMID faced.