EU Supports Expansion of UN Arms Embargo on Sudan

Brussels, 10 September 2024 – The European Union has announced its support for expanding the scope of the UN-imposed arms embargo on Darfur to include all of Sudan.

The UN Security Council is set to consider renewing sanctions imposed on Sudan since 2004, which include a ban on the transfer of military equipment to Darfur, including weapons, ammunition, vehicles, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts.

EU Statement

The European Union stated that it “supports the recommendations of the fact-finding mission to renew and extend the UN-imposed arms embargo on Darfur to include all of Sudan.” The EU is implementing the ban and calls on others to “follow its example.”

The EU emphasized that any external support given to the warring parties fuels the conflict and poses a threat to the stability of the region.

Fact-Finding Mission Recommendations

The fact-finding mission recommended the deployment of an independent force to protect civilians, the expansion of the arms embargo on Darfur to include all of Sudan, and the expansion of the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court to cover the entire Sudanese territory.

Human Rights Watch Report

Human Rights Watch reported that Sudan’s army and rapid aid forces have received advanced weapons and military equipment from companies registered in the United Arab Emirates, China, Iran, Russia, and Serbia.

EU Commitment to Accountability

The European Union noted that the report of the fact-finding mission provides further evidence of the responsibility of the army, rapid assistance forces, and their partners for widespread violations.

The EU has pledged to work with international mechanisms to identify all responsible parties and hold them accountable for the atrocities they have committed and continue to commit.

“Impunity cannot be allowed, and we hope the ICC prosecutor will soon issue an arrest warrant,” the EU stated.

UN Human Rights Council Discussion

This week, the UN Human Rights Council will discuss the report of the fact-finding mission, whose mandate includes collecting and analyzing evidence of violations, identifying individuals and entities responsible for them, and making recommendations on accountability measures and ending impunity.

Call for Ceasefire and Monitoring Mechanisms

The European Union renewed its call for an immediate ceasefire and established independent monitoring and verification mechanisms to enforce it.

Regional and international efforts to bring the two sides to the dispute to the negotiating table have failed, the most recent being a call by the United States to open talks in Geneva on August 14.