United States Proposes Expansion of UN Arms Embargo to All of Sudan

The United States proposed expanding the existing United Nations arms embargo for Darfur to cover the entirety of Sudan during a UN Security Council meeting in New York on Monday. US Envoy Massad Boulos stated that the brutality of the war waged by the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has discredited their claims to be legitimate governors. The US proposal seeks to expand the embargo geographically and materially to include unmanned aerial vehicles and related technologies, while also increasing the number of experts monitoring the embargo.

The current Darfur embargo has been in place for two decades and is set to expire on September 12, 2026, unless it is renewed or amended. An expansion would require a vote by the Security Council. Russia, which holds veto power, expressed skepticism about the changes, arguing that an expanded embargo could impact the effectiveness of the Sudanese army. Sudan's UN envoy, Al-Harith Idriss al-Harith Mohamed, urged a technical extension instead, warning that expanding the sanctions regime would weaken the protection of civilians.

UN officials highlighted the increasing complexity of the conflict. Under Secretary General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary Di Carlo noted that sophisticated weaponry points to ongoing external support for both parties. Humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher added that recent fighting has been characterized by localized ground combat and the heavy use of drones. The war in Sudan has lasted four years, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions. Currently, the Sudanese army controls central and eastern regions, while the RSF controls parts of southern and western Darfur.