The head of the United Nations Integrated Transitional Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), Volker Perthes, has vowed to support Sudan's bid to achieve democratic transformation, peace and economic recovery, said the UNITAMS on Tuesday.

Perthes arrived in Khartoum, Sudan early Tuesday to take up his functions as Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Sudan and Head of the UNITAMS, it said in a press release.

"I am looking forward to working with the transitional authorities and the great people of Sudan," Perthes was quoted in the press release as saying. "I will devote my energy on supporting Sudan achieve its goals of democratic transformation, peace and economic recovery," he added.

The mission explained that Perthes would remain in quarantine for seven days to ensure he is COVID-19 free before starting a schedule of meetings with national authorities, partners and colleagues.

The UN official is looking forward to working with the UN family at large and its partners in supporting a peaceful transition to democracy in Sudan, as mandated by UN Security Council resolution 2524.

Conflict spread in Sudan's western Darfur region from 2003 after mostly non-Arab rebels rose up against Khartoum. Sudan's government forces and mainly Arab militia that moved to repress the revolt were accused of widespread atrocities. An estimated 300,000 people were killed and 2.5 million displaced.

Former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was deposed by the military in April 2019 following a popular uprising that lasted for months, and a transitional government was formed under a three-year power-sharing agreement between the military and civilian groups.

In June, the Security Council established a UN political mission to assist Sudan's political transition, support peace processes, assist peace-building, civilian protection and rule of law, in particular in Darfur, and help coordinate humanitarian aid and development assistance.

In October, Sudan's transitional authorities finalized a peace deal with some rebel groups from Darfur. But the agreement excluded the group that has been most active on the ground.

(With inputs from Xinhua, Reuters)