Sudan: US proposes expanding UN arms embargo

The United States on Monday proposed broadening an existing UN arms embargo for Darfur to encompass the entire nation of Sudan, according to a statement from US Envoy Massad Boulos during a UN Security Council meeting in New York. Boulos emphasized that the intense violence perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces has undermined their claim to be legitimate representatives of the Sudanese populace.

He cautioned that external financial and military support is exacerbating the conflict and may entangle neighboring countries in the turmoil. The US aims to expand the embargo geographically and in terms of equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles and associated technologies. Furthermore, the proposed plan would augment the number of experts tasked with overseeing the embargo.

The current Darfur embargo has been in effect for two decades and is set to expire on September 12, 2026, unless extended or renewed; an expansion would necessitate a vote in the Security Council. Sudan's UN envoy called for members to approve a technical extension of the existing embargo while warning against modifications that could impair the army's capabilities.

Al-Harith Idriss al-Harith Mohamed, Sudan's UN envoy, expressed concern that expanding the sanctions regime could compromise civilian protection. Russia, with veto authority in the Security Council, expressed doubt about changes to the current arrangement, stating that broadening the embargo could affect the Sudanese army's effectiveness.

Before Boulos presented the US stance, UN Under Secretary General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary Di Carlo cautioned that the conflict in Sudan is becoming increasingly complex, with sophisticated weaponry pointing to external support for both sides. The UN's humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, noted that recent fighting in Sudan has involved the extensive use of drones and ground combat in areas less impacted by the rainy season.

The conflict, now in its fourth year, has resulted in the deaths of thousands and the displacement of millions of civilians. The Sudanese army maintains control over the country's central and eastern regions, while the Rapid Support Forces control the western and southern Darfur areas. Darfur, a vast western region larger than France, has experienced some of the most severe violence in the conflict, including repeated attacks on displacement camps and ethnic massacres that have claimed thousands of lives.