The United Nations sanctions regime on Sudan was established by the Security Council in response to the conflict in Darfur. Resolution 1556 (2004) imposed an arms embargo on non-governmental entities and individuals operating in the Darfur region, including the Janjaweed militias. Resolution 1591 (2005) expanded the regime by extending the arms embargo to all parties to the N'djamena Ceasefire Agreement and to any other belligerents in the three Darfur states, and established a Sanctions Committee and a Panel of Experts to monitor implementation.
Resolution 1591 also created the framework for targeted measures — travel bans and asset freezes — against individuals designated by the Committee as impeding the peace process, constituting a threat to stability, committing violations of international humanitarian or human rights law, or violating the arms embargo. The first listings of individuals occurred in 2006 under Resolution 1672, naming a small number of commanders from the Sudanese Air Force, a Janjaweed leader, and rebel faction figures.
Key features of the regime:
- Arms embargo covering Darfur (not nationwide), with exemptions for monitoring missions and for supplies authorized in advance by the Sanctions Committee.
- Targeted measures (asset freeze, travel ban) against listed individuals.
- Oversight by the 2005 Sanctions Committee (Sudan) and an annually renewed Panel of Experts that reports on violations.
The regime is distinct from earlier UN measures: Resolution 1054 (1996) had imposed diplomatic sanctions on Sudan over its alleged role in the attempted assassination of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Addis Ababa; those measures were lifted by Resolution 1372 (2001). It is also separate from US unilateral sanctions, which were largely lifted in 2017, and from sanctions imposed after the April 2023 outbreak of war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The Panel of Experts has repeatedly documented arms embargo violations and the flow of weapons into Darfur from outside actors.
Example
In 2006, under Resolution 1672, the UN Security Council designated four individuals — including a Sudanese Air Force commander and a Janjaweed leader — for asset freezes and travel bans related to the Darfur conflict.
Frequently asked questions
No. The embargo established by Resolutions 1556 and 1591 applies to the Darfur region, not to Sudan as a whole, though it covers all parties operating there.
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