Following a tenure marked by lack of impartiality… UN to replace RamtaneLamamra

The United Nations is moving to replace its Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, who will vacate his position at the end of February after serving a term of nearly three years marked by a perceived lack of impartiality in regards to the Sudanese crisis. 

The end of Lamamra’s term comes as part of the routine rotation of envoys, without any further details being provided. 

During his tenure, Lamamra led efforts to engage with the parties to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, however, said efforts were met with criticism from a number of parties who considered his role unbalanced despite his meetings with various factions. 

According to diplomatic sources, the team of UN Secretary-General António Guterres has begun consultations to select a new envoy to handle the file, given the complexities of the ongoing war in Sudan. 

Information circulating within UN circles indicates that several names are being considered, including former Yemeni Prime Minister, Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed, and former Finnish Foreign Minister, PekkaHaavisto. 

For his part, Haavisto is well-regarded in some international circles due to his previous experience in dealing with the Darfur issue during (2003).