Volker Perthes (center), Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan, oversees the evacuation of internationally-recruited personnel in Port Sudan on April 25, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

UNITED NATIONS - Volker Perthes, the UN envoy to Sudan, on Wednesday said that he is stepping down from the position.

Perthes made the announcement while briefing the Security Council on the situation in Sudan.

"I have had the privilege to serve as the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sudan for more than two and a half years," he said.

ALSO READ: UN: Situation in Sudan 'spiralling out of control'

"I am grateful to the Secretary-General for that opportunity and for his confidence in me, but I have asked him to relieve me of this duty. This will therefore be my last briefing in this function," said Perthes.

In response to questions at a Wednesday press conference, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Perthes has very strong reasons to resign and "I have to respect his will and accept his resignation."

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry said in June the government of Sudan officially notified Guterres that Perthes had been declared persona non grata.

A UN spokesperson then said Guterres "recalls that the doctrine of persona non grata is not applicable to or in respect of United Nations personnel." 

At least 40 civilians were killed Wednesday in Nyala, the capital city of southwestern Sudan's South Darfur State, in airstrikes on a popular market and civilian neighborhoods, according to eyewitnesses and medical sources

At least 40 killed in airstrikes in Sudan's South Darfur

At least 40 civilians were killed Wednesday in Nyala, the capital city of southwestern Sudan's South Darfur State, in airstrikes on a popular market and civilian neighborhoods, according to eyewitnesses and medical sources.

"Warplanes launched intensive strikes targeting residential areas, including the Al-Sad Al-Ali, Al-Riyadh, and Texas neighborhoods" earlier in the day, an eyewitness told Xinhua by phone.

READ MORE: UN now expects 1.8m people to flee Sudan by year-end

"An air strike also targeted the popular Al-Malaja market in Nyala," the eyewitness said.

The eyewitness said about 40 civilians were killed in the airstrikes.

The Al-Wohda health center in Nyala received "a large number" of trauma patients, some of whom were already dead when rushed there while some others died after arrival, a medical cadre at the center told Xinhua.

Sudanese who fled the conflict in their country gather on the banks of the Nile river in the Egyptian city of Aswan, on September 8, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

He said the number of fatalities could further increase.

READ MORE: UN aid chief warns of regional catastrophe as Sudan violence spreads

Also on Wednesday, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) issued a statement accusing the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) of targetting civilians in air raids in the state capital, killing 40 people and injuring hundreds.

The RSF further said that the search is still continuing for bodies under the rubble.

A comment could not be obtained yet from the office of the SAF spokesman.

Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the SAF and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum and other areas since April 15, resulting in at least 3,000 deaths and more than 6,000 injuries, according to the Sudanese Health Ministry.