The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) Amina Mohammed yesterday concluded her two-day visit to Sudan on 27 and 28 October, during which she met with members from the Sovereignty Council, the Prime Minister, number of government ministers, senior officials, representatives of civil society organizations, women's and youth leaders and the Forces of Freedom and Change.
In the meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Sudan the Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed affirmed the readiness of the United Nations to support the priorities of the Transitional Government. Prime Minister Dr. Abdalla Hamdok reiterated the commitment of the transitional government to realize the goals set forth in the constitutional declaration. He also stressed Sudan's long-standing cooperation and coordination with the United Nations, praising the support of the international community to the priority agenda of the government.
The meeting discussed the priorities of the Transitional Government, including ending war and achieving comprehensive peace in the country. In a press statement following the meeting, DSG Amina Mohammed affirmed the support of the UN and the International Community at large for these priorities, stressing the need to convey the positive indicators emerging from the efforts by the Transitional Government to the international community.
In the presence of two members of the sovereign council Dr Aisha Musa and Ms. Raja Nicola, Prime Minister Dr. Abdalla Hamdok, Governor of Khartoum State Lt. Gen. Ahmed Abdoun Hammad, senior representatives of the Sudanese Government, diplomatic missions, civil society organizations and the media, DSG Amina Mohammed addressed the audience of the United Nations Day commemorative event organized by the Government of Khartoum State and acknowledged the vital role played by Sudanese women and youth in the revolution.
The DSG praised the steps taken by the Government giving women and youth issues a high priority and affirmed the commitment of the United Nations and its support to the government to achieve the goals of the revolution. She further highlighted that the Transitional Government has made the empowerment of women and young people a priority. She noted that seven women leaders are occupying leading positions in the transitional government of Sudan which she stressed that would certainly help pave the path to enhanced role, representation and participation of women in socio-economic recovery, and to the achievement of sustainable peace and inclusive development that will benefit all of Sudan’s diverse and vibrant society.
In her address, the DSG further pointed out the importance of Sudan to the stability and prosperity in the region. " Your success is ours. Our failure means that we fail a generation of young people and the future of peace and progress not only in Sudan but in the region and the world at large. The women and young people of Sudan proved to the global community that “peace is possible” and we all have a responsibility to ensure that Peace in Sudan is maintained and sustained."
DSG Amina Mohammed and the accompanying high-level delegation met with Chief Justice Nemat Abdallah Mohammed Khair, in the presence of a number of heads of departments in the judiciary, where she stressed that this appointment represents a pride for Africa and a real addition to justice. She expressed the readiness of the United Nations to support the judiciary.
A session of joint talks between the UN and a number of ministries was held under the chairpersonship of Ambassador Omar Bashir Manis, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, to discuss cooperation between the two parties, particularly in promoting peace and sustainable development goals.
The DSG made it a point to witness the reality of Sudanese women and men and girls and boys outside of Khartoum and visited Elfashir, North Darfur, accompanied by the Minister of Labor and Social Development Ms. Lina Al-Sheikh and a high-level UN delegation, including the Special Advisor of the Secretary General for Sudan Mr. Nicholas Haysom, UNAMID Joint Special Representative Mr. Jeremiah Mamabolo and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa Ms. Vera Songwe and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Ms. Gwi-Yeop son. The delegation was received by the Governor of North Darfur State; DSG inaugurated the Resource Center for Human Rights in Elfasher University, established under the State Liaison Function with the support of UNDP and UNAMID.
The visit of the DSG was the highest level in over a decade and came at the invitation of H.E. Prime Minister. Prior to her visit to Sudan, the DSG visited a number of countries in the Horn of Africa on a joint mission between the United Nations and the African Union to highlight the issues of the women, peace and security agenda.