By Ahmed Mohammed
The Security Council today extended sanctions against Sudan — including asset freezes, travel bans and an arms embargo. The 15-member organ has decided to roll over those measures for another year, with a decision on their further renewal to be made no later than 12 September 2025.
After the adoption, the representative of the United States said that the people of Darfur continue to live in danger, desperation and despair. Whereas, the representative of the United Kingdom noted the recent UN fact-finding mission’s report of systematic human rights abuses by the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces. Both sides believe the solution to this conflict will be on the battleground, he observed, calling on States to refrain from enhancing either side’s fighting capability and instead use their influence to bring them to the negotiating table. The representative of the Republic of Korea on the other hand urged all warring parties and member States to comply with the arms embargo and cease serious violations of international humanitarian law.
The representative of China said that his country supported the renewal of sanctions to help “stem the steady flow of illicit arms into the battlefield” and de-escalate the situation on the ground. The representative of France condemned all violations committed in Sudan, regardless of the perpetrators, expressing concern about the atrocities of civilians in Darfur based on their ethnic affiliation. He called on all foreign actors to abstain from arming, financing or logistically supporting the parties.
The representative of the Russian Federation at the UN Security Council noted that external humanitarian actions to assist Sudan must be purely constructive and only be coordinated with the central authorities in Sudan. The representative warned the use of unilateral coercive measures and pressure by some States against the Sudanese side is unacceptable.
The representative of Sudan also pointed to the ongoing attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Darfur, including medical facilities, carried out by the Rapid Support Forces militias using heavy artillery and weapons banned under international law.
The representative further stressed the need for international pressure on the militias to compensate the Sudanese people for the losses they have inflicted through large-scale looting and widespread destruction.