UN extends sanctions against Sudan

The UN Security Council has extended sanctions and an arms embargo against Sudan by a year.

The 15-member council voted to renew the mandate of the panel of experts charged with monitoring and implementing the sanctions and embargo until 12 March next year.

Thirteen countries voted in favour of the motion with Russia and China abstaining.

China’s representative Dai Bing said the sanctions were “outdated and should be lifted because things have improved on the ground”.

Russia’s Dmitry Polyanskiy said the “sanctions regime did not reflect the situation in Darfur” and was “preventing the Sudan government from state-building and achieving socioeconomic development”.

US representative John Kelley said he endorsed a continuation of monitoring and reporting.

He added that progress on benchmarks anchored in the Juba peace deal signed in 2020 would “move Sudan and its people towards the peace and prosperity they deserve”.

Sudan has been in economic and political turmoil since 2021 when the Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan-led junta overthrew and took power from the civilian-led transitional government.

The coup derailed the transition to civilian rule following the ousting in 2019 of long-time leader Omar al-Bashir.