UN Security Council sends experts to Sudan

Correspondent: Moses Kuwema

The Security Council on Friday decided to extend until March 12, 2022, the mandate of the panel of experts tasked with assisting the committee overseeing sanctions concerning Sudan.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2562 (2021), the Council requested the Panel of Experts on the Sudan to provide the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) with an interim report on its activities by August 12, 2021 and a final report by January 13, 2022, with its findings and recommendations.

It further requested that the Panel of Experts provide updates every three months to the Committee regarding its activities and expressed its intention to review the mandate and take appropriate action regarding the further extension of the mandate no later than February 12, 2022.

The Council requested the Government of Sudan to submit requests for the Committee’s consideration, and where appropriate, prior approval for the movement of military equipment and supplies into the Darfur region, particularly in the context of the implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement.

The 15-member organ also requested the Secretary-General, in close consultation with the Government of Sudan, signatories of the Juba Peace Agreement, United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan (UNITAMS) and the Panel of Experts, to conduct a review of the situation in Darfur. This includes threats to stability, implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement and the National Plan for Civilian Protection, measures to tackle the proliferation of weapons, and compliance with those measures on Darfur.

The Council further requested the Secretary-General, in close coordination with the Panel of Experts and in consultation with the Government of Sudan, to provide a report by July 31 containing recommendations for clear and well‑identified key benchmarks that could serve in guiding the Security Council to review the measures on Darfur. In this regard, the Council expressed its intention to establish such benchmarks no later than September 15, with readiness to consider adjusting measures to respond to the situation in Darfur.