Mr. President,
We join other Council Members in thanking the briefers for their insightful overviews.
Last year during the High-level week of the General Assembly, Prime Minister Hamdok introduced his government’s ambitious goals to bring peace to the country, lead a successful transition to democracy, and recover the economy. Despite multiple challenges, such as COVID-19, Sudan has made great efforts to reach these goals. While a lot of work is still ahead, we recognize the progress already achieved.
In this regard, allow me to congratulate Sudan on reaching the peace agreement. We further encourage parties who have not yet joined the peace agreement to do so urgently. We hope that this agreement will pave the way for lasting peace in Sudan. For this to happen, addressing the root causes of conflict is imperative. As with any peace agreement, implementation is the key. While Sudan will be clearly in the lead, we hope that they can feel the full and unwavering support of international community through UNITAMS in this endeavor of implementation.
We also welcome the progress Sudan has made with the political transition to democracy. For instance, the appointment of civilian governors was a key milestone. Equally significant was the adoption of legal reforms that strengthen human rights. We encourage Sudan to continue on this path of institution-building, as strong democratic institutions form the backbone of democracy. Again, we hope that UNITAMS can be a solid partner in this endeavor of helping Sudan to achieve full democracy.
Sudan continues to face immense economic challenges. Estonia was proud to contribute to the Partnership Conference held in June, but we recognize that more needs to be done. Sudan needs continued support to heal its crippled economy. We hope that this sustained support will be provided by UNITAMS, amongst other actors.
Mr. President,
UNITAMS was established with the sole purpose of supporting Sudan during its historic transition. Given the immense challenges Sudan is facing, it is crucial that UNITAMS has sufficient capacity, adequate resources, and would be fit for purpose to offer support in all areas where Sudan needs help. This also applies to the security situation. We welcome the willingness of Sudan to address civilian protection head on, but also recognize some of the capacity constraints, where the UN can be helpful. On this note, we would also like to commend the cooperation between Sudan and UNAMID in addressing the recent outbreak of violence in Darfur. It serves as a true example of how much more can be achieved, if actors work together for a common goal. Therefore, it is our hope that UNITAMS, as well as UNAMID, are embraced by Sudan as true partners that will help Sudan to rise to the challenges it is currently facing. We also join others in highlighting the importance of appointing the Special Representative of the Secretary-General as soon as possible.
To conclude, Estonia wants to see Sudan succeed. We hope that with the support of the UN, including UNITAMS, Sudan is able to reach all of its goals of achieving peace, democracy and prosperity.
Thank you!