Security Council extends mandate of Darfur arms-monitoring team

October 13, 2009 (UNITED NATIONS) – The UN Security Council today decided to extend the mandate of the panel of experts monitoring sanctions imposed over the strife-torn Sudanese region of Darfur.

The Security Council sanctions panel of experts concerning Sudan was established pursuant to resolution 1591 in March 2005 to oversee the sanctions measures set forth by the resolutions which include arms embargo, travel bans and assets freeze on designated individuals.

The 15-member body on Tuesday adopted unanimously a resolution allowing the panel to continue its work through October 15, 2010. It further requested the committee to coordinate its activities with the joint United Nations–African Union peacekeeping force (UNAMID).

The resolution asked the four member panel to provide an interim report to the Security Council’s Sanctions Committee within 90 days after the adoption of this new resolution, and provide a mid-term briefing on its work by March 31, 2010.

UN experts estimate 300,000 people have been killed and 2.7 million displaced in Darfur since 2003 after a rebellion against the government followed by bloody repression by the government army and allied militias.

(ST)