According to AP “Sudan’s military ruler demanded in a letter to the U.N. secretary-general that the U.N. envoy to his country be removed, officials said Saturday.

“The Secretary-General is shocked by the letter he received this morning,” U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. “The Secretary-General is proud of the work done by Volker Perthes and reaffirms his full confidence in his Special Representative.”

Burhan’s letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was received Friday.

On Friday, Sudan’s army called for reservists and retired soldiers to re-enlist amid a deadly conflict with the Rapid Support
Forces.

Sporadic fighting has continued all week, though the ceasefire monitors Saudi Arabia and the United States said earlier Friday that compliance was improving, but the army moves may indicate it is gearing up for a long conflict.

Aljazeera.Agencies.