Sudan’s Emergency Lawyers group has welcomed a US proposal to expand the United Nations arms embargo and sanctions regime under Resolution 1591 from Darfur to the whole of Sudan.
In a statement, the legal group said widening the embargo would be an important step toward restricting the flow of weapons to parties involved in the country’s war.
Emergency Lawyers urged members of the UN Security Council to support and adopt the US proposal, arguing that continued weapons supplies have helped sustain the conflict.
The group said, however, that broadening the embargo alone would not be enough. It called for effective enforcement mechanisms capable of ensuring that restrictions are implemented in practice and of reducing military supplies reaching the warring parties.
The proposal would significantly expand the geographical scope of measures linked to Security Council Resolution 1591, which currently focuses on Darfur.
The debate comes amid growing international concern over the continued supply of weapons to Sudan’s rival forces and the role outside military support has played in prolonging the war.
Emergency Lawyers said stronger monitoring and enforcement would be essential if an expanded embargo is to have a meaningful impact on the battlefield and help curb the flow of arms fueling the conflict.
