US and Denmark push for nationwide expansion of UN arms embargo in Sudan
The US and Denmark are pushing for a nationwide expansion of the UN arms embargo in Sudan, citing the risk of regional expansion of the conflict. The current embargo, which has been in place for over two decades, is set to expire on September 12 if a new agreement is not …
Intelligence analysis by Llama
The US and Denmark are urging the UN Security Council to expand the arms embargo on Sudan to cover the entire country, citing the risk of regional expansion of the conflict. The current embargo is set to expire on September 12 if a new agreement is not reached.
Imagine a big fight in a country called Sudan. The US and Denmark want to stop people from bringing in more guns to make the fight worse. They think this could make the problem bigger and affect other countries too.
Analysis
US and Denmark Push for Nationwide Expansion of UN Arms Embargo in Sudan
The United States and Denmark are pushing for a nationwide expansion of the UN arms embargo in Sudan, citing the risk of regional expansion of the conflict. The current embargo, which has been in place for over two decades, is set to expire on September 12 if a new agreement is not reached.
The US envoy to the UN Security Council, Massad Boulos, called on the Council to take steps to curtail "external support" for the conflict that "risks drawing more regional actors and neighbours deeper into Sudan's conflict". He proposed expanding the arms embargo across the entire territory of Sudan, bringing drones under the arms restriction regime, and increasing the number of experts scrutinising the existing embargo.
This proposal echoes that of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who in June described the conflict in Sudan as a "proxy war". The conflict, now in its fourth year, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, as ever more sophisticated weaponry – including armed drones – is deployed to the battlefield.
The army holds sway in Sudan's central and eastern regions, while the Darfur region in the west and parts of the south are under control of the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Gold, power and influence – how the UAE is shaping Sudan’s war
Sudan's UN envoy urged a "technical extension" of the existing embargo, while warning against changes that would hamper the army. "Sudan suffers the most from weapons and their illegal flow. However, expanding such a sanctions regime will weaken the protection of civilians," said Al-Harith Idriss al-Harith Mohamed.
Before Washington's call, Rosemary Di Carlo, the UN's under-secretary-general for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, warned a "worrying aspect of the conflict in Sudan is its increasing complexity". Sophisticated weaponry "The sophisticated weaponry used continues to point to ongoing external support to both parties," Di Carlo said. "In recent weeks, fighting in Sudan has been characterised by the heavy use of drones and localised ground combat in areas less affected by rainy season conditions."
Key points
- The US and Denmark are pushing for a nationwide expansion of the UN arms embargo in Sudan.
- The current embargo is set to expire on September 12 if a new agreement is not reached.
- The expansion of the arms embargo could have significant implications for the conflict in Sudan and the region as a whole.
- The US envoy to the UN Security Council, Massad Boulos, called on the Council to take steps to curtail "external support" for the conflict.
- The conflict in Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, as ever more sophisticated weaponry – including armed drones – is deployed to the battlefield.
If the UN expands the arms embargo, it could help reduce the flow of weapons into Sudan and make it harder for the conflict to spread. This could lead to a decrease in violence and a more stable region.
However, if the UN does not expand the embargo, the conflict in Sudan could continue to escalate, leading to more violence and displacement. This could also have negative consequences for neighboring countries and the region as a whole.
