Security Council extends Darfur sanctions experts until March 2023

February 15, 2022 (NEW YORK) – The Security Council Tuesday extended until March 2023 the mandate of independent experts tasked with assisting the Sudan Sanctions Committee.

The 15-member body unanimously adopted resolution 2620 (2022) extending the Panel of Experts until 12 March 2023, and requested its five members to provide an interim report on its activities by 12 August 2022; a final report by 13 January 2023.

Appointed in 2005, the experts operate under the direction of the Security Council Committee sanction committee concerning arms embargo on Darfur region, travel ban and assets freeze.

Tasked with the monitoring of violations in Darfur by all the parties, the panel in its latest report showed the continuation of intercommunal violence and attacks on IDPs camps involving government militiamen that committed war crimes.

Also, despite the signing of a peace agreement in October 2020, the signatory groups continue their mercenary activities in Libya and introduce weapons in Western Sudan, in violation of resolution 1951 (2005).

The transitional government in Sudan, last year requested the review of sanctions in Darfur and termination of the panel of experts.

In line with a request made by the Security Council, the Secretary-General on July 31, 2021, provided a report recommending four key benchmarks and related targets, namely progress on political and economic governance issues; transitional security arrangements in Darfur; the National Plan for Civilian Protection; and transitional justice and accountability.

Discussions on draft resolution 2620 were complicated by the ongoing political crisis and the coup d’etat of October 25, 2021.

Following the adoption, the representative of the United States said the “Robust monitoring and reporting must continue” and the independent experts play a crucial n this respect.

The American diplomat underscored the need for a unified international effort to help Sudan restore civilian rule and to condemn ongoing cycles of violence and attacks by armed groups.

China’s representative said the Sudanese authorities continue to be affected by sanctions. He further expressed regret that calls for benchmark-setting in 2021 remain unimplemented,

For his part, the Russian representative and Security Council President for February underlined that existing measures are hindering authorities in Sudan and must be adjusted and modified until their removal.

“They cannot and should not be used as a political tool,” she further said in her national capacity.

(ST)