Ban Ki-moon selects four members for panel on Darfur sanctions

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed four experts to serve on a panel authorized by the Security Council to monitor the arms embargo, travel ban and assets freeze set up as a result of the conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan.

Mr. Ban sent a letter to the Council President that was made public this week informing him that he has appointed Thomas W. Bifwoli (Kenya), Awni Momani (Jordan), Ian Rowe (Canada) and Anoop Swarup (India) to sit on the panel until 15 October next year.

Mr. Bifwoli has also been designated to succeed Gerard P. McHugh as the Coordinator of the Panel of Experts, which was established under a resolution in March 2005.

The Council set up the panel to help monitor the implementation of the arms embargo on all non-government entities and individuals, including the notorious Janjaweed militia. The group is mandated with informing the Council’s sanctions committee about individuals who impede the Darfur peace process, violate international law or are responsible for offensive military overflights.

Later the mandate was expanded so that the panel is also tasked with monitoring the implementation of a travel ban and assets ban on certain targeted individuals.

Since fighting erupted between rebel groups, Government forces and the allied Janjaweed in 2003, UN officials have repeatedly described Darfur as the scene of one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. More than 200,000 people have been killed and the conflict has spilled into neighbouring Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR).