Security Council lengthen mandate of experts monitoring Darfur sanctions

The Security Council today voted unanimously to extend the mandate of the panel of experts monitoring sanctions imposed over the strife-torn Sudanese region of Darfur.

The 15-member body adopted a resolution allowing the group, which monitors an arms embargo, travel ban and assets freeze, to continue its work through 15 October next year.

The panel, established in March 2005, is tasked with monitoring the implementation of the arms embargo imposed by Council resolutions, and inform the sanctions committee about individuals who impede the peace process, violate international law or are responsible for offensive military overflights.

Determining that the situation in Sudan continues to present a threat to international peace and regional security, the Council requested in today’s resolution that the panel coordinate its activities with the joint United Nations–African Union peacekeeping force, known as UNAMID, which was established at the beginning of 2008.

UNAMID, which has lost 14 military personnel and three civilian police as a result of hostile attacks, currently stands at almost 19,000 military and police personnel, several thousand uniformed personnel short of its authorized full deployment of 26,000.

Since 2003, an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and 2.7 million others displaced in Darfur as a result of the conflict that has pitted rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen. All three groups have been accused of attacks against civilians and human rights abuses.