Security Council extends Darfur sanctions for one year
March 8, 2023 (NEW YORK) – The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday extended for another year a Sudan arms embargo and targeted sanctions regime.
Sudan’s military-led government sought earlier this year to mobilize regional and international support for the lifting of an arms embargo on the Darfur region as well as a panel of experts tasked with monitoring of the situation on the ground.
“The United Nations Security Council voted today to extend through 12 March 2024 the mandate of the Panel of Experts charged with assisting its Sudan sanctions committee,” read a statement released after a meeting to discuss the matter.
“While also expressing its intention to review those sanctions in light of progress achieved by the Government on several key benchmarks,” added the Council.
Resolution 2676 (2023) was voted by 13 of 15 members. China and the Russian Federation abstained.
The Council decided to review the sanctions on Sudan, their modification, suspension or progressive lifting, by 12 February 2024.
“For that purpose, it would consider progress achieved by the Government of Sudan on benchmarks 2 and 3 and related targets outlined in the Secretary-General’s report of 31 July 2021 “.
The resolution was referring to the implementation of the transitional security arrangements in Darfur and the national action plan for the protection of civilians.
In a letter to the Security Council on January 27, Sudan rejected the four benchmarks included in the report of the Secretary-General.
“The suggested benchmarks might have been a tool for continuing those sanctions indefinitely for foreign policy reasons that have nothing to do with current realities in the Sudan and the post-war conditions in Darfur, but stem from sheer national self-interest,” said the Sudanese Ambassador to the UN.
Resolution 2676 (2023) requested the panel of independent experts to provide the Council’s sanctions committee with an interim report on its activities by 12 August 2023; a final report by 13 January 2024, with findings and recommendations; and updates every three months.
The resolution requested the Secretary-General, in coordination with the Panel of Experts, to conduct a progress assessment on the key benchmarks by 1 December 2023.
Also, the Council requested the Sudanese government to report to the sanctions committee on progress achieved on the key benchmarks by that date.
Furthermore, it asked Sudan to submit requests for prior approval from the Sanctions Committee to transfer military equipment and supplies to the Darfur region, particularly in the context of implementing the Juba Peace Agreement, signed in 2020.
Chinese Ambassador Dai Bing said his country supports the lift of the “outdated” arms embargo on Darfur pointing to the signing of the Juba peace agreement and the withdrawal of UNAMID from the region.
In the same direction, Russian Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy called to lift the sanctions saying it was not acceptable to them as a punitive measure.
For his part, U.S. diplomat John Kelly, the resolution’s penholder stressed the retained two benchmarks are achievable and relevant. Pointing to the fragile security situation on the ground, he stressed that the panel of experts continues to play a critical role in reporting on conflict and promoting peace in Darfur.
(ST)