Security Council extends mandate of experts monitoring Darfur sanctions

The Security Council today extended the mandate of the panel of experts monitoring sanctions imposed over the strife-torn Sudanese region of Darfur for another year, with China abstaining on the vote over concerns about the panel’s work.

Established in March 2005, the panel is tasked with monitoring an arms embargo, travel ban and assets freeze, and inform the Council’s sanctions committee about individuals who impede the peace process, violate international law or are responsible for offensive military overflights.

The Council urged all States to cooperate with the panel and the related sanctions committee, as it extended the expert body’s mandate until 19 October 2011.

It also requested that the panel coordinate its activities with the joint UN–African Union peacekeeping force, known as UNAMID, which was established nearly three years ago to help protect civilians in Darfur.

Abstaining on the vote on the resolution, which was supported by the Council’s other 14 members, China’s representative voiced concerns about the latest report of the panel, as well as the group’s objectivity in carrying out its work.

An estimated 300,000 people have been killed and 2.7 million others displaced since 2003 owing to fighting between rebels and Government forces and their allied Janjaweed militiamen.