UK's non-stop support to Sudan over past 22+ years

PEOPLE who criticise the United Kingdom's non-stop support to Sudan over the past 22+ years do not know what they are talking about. Sudan is a former British protectorate. Historic ties between Britain and Sudan stretch back more than a century. The UK has never stopped caring about Sudan.

Below is a must-see UN video followed by reports from the hundreds in Sudan Watch's archive relating to the UK's support to Sudan since 2003. 

Note that the UK is a 'Penholder' at the United Nations (UN). This includes (but is not limited to) Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The US is the penholder on Sudan sanctions and South Sudan. 

According to a report by the UN Security Council: 

"With few exceptions, Council outcomes on specific conflict-related situations are drafted by one of the P3 (France, the UK and the US) as the self-appointed penholders.

Permanent members China and Russia have in recent years occasionally served as co-penholders with the US on non-proliferation issues in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Golan Heights, respectively. Elected members have served as penholders on Afghanistan, Guinea-Bissau and some thematic issues (see Annex for details)."

France is one of the founding members of the UN and plays a key role in many issues. Since 1945, it has been a member of the Security Council where it sits as a permanent member alongside the United Kingdom, the United States, China and Russia.

Sudan: Vote on a Draft Resolution to Protect Civilians

WATCH VIDEO: 14 in favour, 1 against (Russia), 0 abstentions

Chaired by the UK's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Affairs The Rt Hon David Lammy MP. A powerful speech by Mr Lammy is on the video, after the vote, followed by statements given by the representative for each country, including Russia and Sudan.

Live broadcast courtesy of UN Media 18 Nov 2024 2:30PM GMT UK

Click “Settings” cog for sub-titles in English, Russian, Spanish, Interlingua, Chinese, Arabic, French.

Related reports: Sudan Watch - 18 Nov 2024

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Sudan Watch - 23 Aug 2004

British Government behind African troops - Britain stands ready to provide further assistance if necessary

Sudan is a former British protectorate. Britain is the world's largest cash donor, and the second-largest contributor of aid, to Sudan. 

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2004/08/british-government-behind-african.html

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Sudan Watch - 06 Oct 2004

Blair arrives in Khartoum to press for Darfur peace - Blair outlines demands to Sudan

British Prime Minister Tony Blair flew in to Khartoum earlier today. He is the most senior Western government official to visit Sudan since the Darfur conflict erupted.

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2004/10/blair-arrives-in-khartoum-to-press-for.html

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Sudan Watch - 21 Feb 2006

Benn: UK to provide 20 million pounds for African Union mission in Sudan

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2006/02/benn-uk-to-provide-20-million-pounds.html

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Video report by Associated Press - 29 March 2017

UK minister in Sudan to discuss cooperation

(29 Mar 2017) Britain and Sudan agreed on Wednesday to strengthen their cooperation in the fight against "violent extremism". The commitment followed a meeting between delegations from the two countries in Khartoum. Director for Africa at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Neil Wigan led the British delegation, while Sudan's Undersecretary at the Foreign Ministry Abdul Ghani al-Naeem the Sudanese. The issues of human trafficking, illegal immigration were also on the agenda. The last strategic dialogue between the two countries took place in London last October.

View original at YouTube: https://youtu.be/b6o275gk8FQ

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UK Ministry of Defence - 02 May 2017

UK troops deploy to South Sudan to support peacekeeping mission

The latest deployment of British troops has arrived in South Sudan to continue support to the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping mission.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-troops-deploy-to-south-sudan-to-support-peacekeeping-mission

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Sudan Watch - 29 Mar 2024

UK doubles its aid to Sudan to £89m as crisis escalates

UK CHANNEL 4 NEWS VIDEO FROM CHAD-SUDAN

Click on “Settings” cog /auto-translate/ options for 

sub-titles in preferred language.

Full story: https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2024/03/uk-channel-4-news-video-from-chad-sudan.html

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Sudan Watch - 21 Nov 2024

Sudan: Furious row at UN as Russia blocks resolution to protect civilians. SAF chief praises Russia UN veto

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2024/11/sudan-furious-row-at-un-as-russia.html

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Sudan Watch - 25 Jan 2025

US freezes nearly all foreign assistance worldwide. UK announces £20m in additional funding to Sudan

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2025/01/us-freezes-nearly-all-foreign.html

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Sudan Watch - 19 Feb 2025

Sudan calls on the UK to engage ‘as friends’ rather than through confrontation at international forums

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2025/02/sudan-calls-on-uk-to-engage-as-friends.html

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Sudan Watch - 13 Mar 2025

UK statement at UNSC: In April, UK's Foreign Secretary will convene FM's in London to help end Sudan conflict and improve humanitarian response

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2025/03/uk-statement-at-unsc-in-april-uks.html

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Postscript

Sudan Watch - 08 Jan 2025

Sudan is the Origin of Humanity, Says Oxford Study

According to the two articles copied here below, everybody alive today came from one African country, Sudan. Note that an excerpt from World History says: "Kush was a kingdom in northern Africa in the region corresponding to modern-day Sudan. The larger region around Kush (later referred to as Nubia) was inhabited c. 8,000 BCE but The Kingdom of Kush rose much later."

Full story: https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2025/01/sudan-is-origin-of-humanity-says-oxford.html

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The 50th anniversary plaque of the first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly

Click for larger image here: Wikipedia

"To the glory of God and in prayer for peace on earth / This tablet commemorates the first meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations in the Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, Jan 10 - Feb 14 1946"  [Hat tip: Dr Antony Stokes LVO OBE]

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UNSC adopts Resolution 2724 (2024) calling for cessation of hostilities in Sudan during Ramadan

THE UN Security Council on Friday (Mar 8) adopted a key resolution on Sudan, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the war torn country during the month of Ramadan, which begins on Sunday. There were 14 votes in favour, 0 against, one abstention (Russia).

In another action on Friday, with 13 votes in favour and two abstentions (China and Russia), the Security Council renewed the mandate of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee Panel of Experts, which expires next Tuesday, for a further twelve months. Read more.

From UN News
Dated Friday, 8 March 2024 - here is a copy in full:

Security Council calls for immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan

Photos: A wide view of the UN Security Council as members meet on the situation in the Sudan. 

UN Photo/Manuel Elías

 

The UN Security Council on Friday adopted a key resolution on Sudan, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the wartorn country during the month of Ramadan, which begins on Sunday.

In resolution 2724 (2024), adopted with 14 votes in favour and one abstention (Russia), the Council also called on all parties to the conflict to seek a sustainable resolution to the conflict through dialogue.

The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in April last year in and around the capital. In the eleven months since, the fighting has spread claiming thousands of lives, driven millions from their homes and plunged Sudan into a dire humanitarian crisis.

In the resolution, the Security Council expressed grave concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation, including “crisis levels or worse” of acute food insecurity, particularly in the Darfur region, as well as ongoing reports of international humanitarian and human rights laws violations, including cases of sexual violence in conflict.

It urged all parties to the conflict “to ensure the removal of any obstructions and enable full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access, including cross-border and crossline, and comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including to protect civilians and civilian objects, and their commitments under the Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan (‘Jeddah Declaration’).”

It also encouraged Ramtane Lamamra, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, to use his good offices with the parties and Sudan’s neighbours, complementing and coordinating regional peace efforts.

Sudan Sanctions Panel of Experts

In another action on Friday, with 13 votes in favour and two abstentions (China and Russia), the Security Council renewed the mandate of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee Panel of Experts, which expires next Tuesday, for a further twelve months.

The Panel was established on 29 March 2005 to assist the Committee in monitoring the implementation of sanctions measures imposed by the Council (arms embargo, travel ban and assets freeze) on several armed groups and individuals in Sudan.

View original: https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147432

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Related 

Sudan Watch - Friday, March 8, 2024

Sudan: UK has circulated a draft UN resolution calling for an immediate end of hostilities ahead of Ramadan

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2024/03/sudan-uk-has-circulated-draft-un.html

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Sudan Watch - Friday, March 8, 2024, 19:30 GMT 

Sudan: UNSC Vote on a Draft Resolution (Preamble) 

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2024/03/sudan-unsc-vote-on-draft-resolution.html

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Sudan Watch - Friday, March 8, 2024, 19:51 GMT 

Sudan Sanctions: Vote on Draft Resolution (Preamble) 

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2024/03/sudan-unsc-vote-on-draft-resolution.html

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 END

Sudan Sanctions: Vote on Draft Resolution (Preamble)

"The final report of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee, which was published on 15 January, provided an extensive account of the ongoing conflict, including its dynamics and regional impact, the financing of the warring parties and their recruitment patterns, the humanitarian impact and violations of international humanitarian law (IHL), and the proliferation of weapons and violations of the arms embargo. (For more information, see the Sudan brief in our February 2024 Monthly Forecast.)" Read more.

From UN Security Council
What's In Blue 
Dated Friday, 8 March 2024, 19:51 GMT - here is a copy in full:

Sudan Sanctions: Vote on a Draft Resolution

This afternoon (8 March), the Security Council is expected to vote on a draft resolution extending the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee for another year, until 12 March 2025. The vote on the draft resolution will take place after the vote on a draft resolution calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Background

On 8 March 2023, the Security Council adopted resolution 2676, renewing the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee until 12 March 2024. The resolution introduced a sunset clause, whereby the Council decided to reaffirm and renew the measures of the Sudan sanctions regime until 12 September 2024, and to make a decision regarding their further renewal no later than that date. 

The resolution expressed the Council’s intention to review the regime’s measures by 12 February 2024, including through modification, suspension, or progressive lifting of these measures in light of progress achieved by Sudan’s government on benchmarks two and three outlined in the Secretary-General’s 31 July 2021 report, relating to progress on transitional security arrangements in Darfur and on the national action plan for the protection of civilians, respectively. 

It also requested the Secretary-General to conduct an assessment of progress achieved on the key benchmarks established in the resolution by 1 December 2023 and asked the Sudanese government to report to the committee on progress achieved on these benchmarks by the same date.

In a 24 November 2023 letter to the Council, the Secretary-General noted that the country’s political and security situation had changed significantly since the issuance of the initial report establishing the benchmarks. The outbreak of violence on 15 April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces and the ensuing deterioration of security throughout the country, particularly in Darfur, had halted the implementation of the benchmarks and the UN’s ability to assess progress made on them, according to the letter.

The final report of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee, which was published on 15 January, provided an extensive account of the ongoing conflict, including its dynamics and regional impact, the financing of the warring parties and their recruitment patterns, the humanitarian impact and violations of international humanitarian law (IHL), and the proliferation of weapons and violations of the arms embargo. (For more information, see the Sudan brief in our February 2024 Monthly Forecast.)

Negotiations on the Draft Resolution

The negotiations were apparently difficult, leading to protracted discussions on the draft resolution that lasted over a month. The US, the penholder on Sudan sanctions, circulated an initial draft of the resolution to Council members on 9 February, followed by the first round of negotiations on 13 February. The penholder circulated a revised draft text on 22 February and convened the second round of negotiations on 26 February. 

After receiving written comments from some members, the US shared a second revised draft of the resolution on Monday (4 March), placing it under silence procedure until Tuesday (5 March). The members of the “A3 plus one” grouping (Algeria, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and Guyana) broke silence, after which several other delegations submitted comments. Following bilateral consultations with some members, the US placed the draft text in blue without a further silence procedure yesterday (7 March).

The draft resolution in blue extends the mandate of the Panel of Experts until 12 March 2025 and requests the panel to provide the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee with an interim report on its activities no later than 12 August and a final report by 13 January 2025 with its findings and recommendations. It expresses the Council’s intention to review the panel’s mandate and take appropriate action regarding a further extension by 12 February 2025. Regarding the benchmarks established by resolution 2676, the draft text in blue expresses the Council’s intention to further review these measures by 12 September.

The draft text in blue contains new language, which was proposed by Switzerland, encouraging all parties and all member states, as well as international, regional, and subregional organisations, to ensure continued cooperation with the Panel of Experts assisting the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee, and the safety of its members. This year’s resolution also takes note of the panel’s reporting on the complex financing schemes established by armed groups active in Darfur and requests the panel to further investigate all relevant funding sources—including local, national, and international—of these armed groups.

It seems that one of the most difficult aspects of the negotiations pertained to the duration of the mandate of the Panel of Experts. The initial draft text circulated by the penholder renewed the mandate of the Panel of Experts for one year. It appears that many members—including the P3 (France, the UK, and the US) and other like-minded states—strongly supported a 12-month mandate extension. On the other hand, China, Russia, and the “A3 plus one” members supported a six-month renewal. 

In calling for a short extension, these members apparently intended to align the mandate of the Panel of Experts with the mandate cycle of the Sudan sanctions measures, as introduced by resolution 2676. 

Giving the panel a six-month mandate would mean that the Council would consider the panel’s future and the sanctions at the same time, whereas a 12-month renewal of the panel (until March 2025) presupposes that the sanctions on Sudan would last beyond the sunset clause introduced by resolution 2676. 

It seems that these members aligned themselves with Sudan’s national position in calling for a six-month mandate renewal. Notwithstanding their opposition, the draft resolution in blue extends the mandate of the Panel of Experts for one year.

The other major area of disagreement related to the appointment of an additional expert to the Panel of Experts assisting the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee. The penholder, in its initial draft text, proposed language requesting the Secretary-General, in consultation with the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee, to appoint one additional expert to the panel in order to strengthen its reporting on compliance with the arms embargo. 

Members supportive of the penholder’s proposal noted that such an expert would be a useful addition to the panel given the flow of arms into Darfur, which represents a violation of the arms embargo. On the other hand, several members—including China, Russia, and the “A3 plus one”—objected to this proposal, maintaining that the current panel already includes one arms expert and that there is neither a consensus among the members on this proposal nor has the panel formally requested the appointment of an additional member. In an apparent compromise, the US removed the reference to the appointment of an additional expert at a later stage of the negotiations.

At the request of “A3 plus one” members, the draft resolution in blue includes an operative paragraph requesting the panel to assess in its reports, among other things: progress towards the promotion of peace and stability in Darfur and violations of IHL or violations or abuses of human rights, including those that involve attacks on the civilian population, sexual- and gender-based violence, and violations and abuses against children. The paragraph also asks the panel to provide the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee with information on the individuals and entities that meet the listing criteria outlined in resolution 1591 of 29 March 2005.

It appears that Switzerland proposed new language in the operative section requesting the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict to share relevant information with the committee, and inviting the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to do the same. However, owing to opposition from other Council members—including, China, Russia, and the “A3 plus one”—the proposed language was not included in the draft resolution in blue.

It seems that one of the other major issues during the negotiations pertained to language characterising the situation in Sudan. While several members supported the addition of language in the draft resolution reflecting recent developments in the country, some members—such as China, Russia, and the “A3 plus one”—opposed adding such language, noting that the draft text should only encompass aspects relating to the sanctions regime. The penholder made several amendments in the draft text’s preambular section, apparently to address these members’ concerns. Among other things, the draft text in blue:

• calls on all member states to refrain from external interference which seeks to foment conflict and instability, and instead to support efforts for durable peace;
• reiterates that those who violate the arms embargo may be designated for targeted measures;
• expresses alarm at the ongoing conflict and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Darfur and recognises that the situation in Darfur is strongly affected by the ongoing nationwide conflict;
• strongly condemns the attacks against civilians and widespread cases of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict; and
• stresses the need for all parties to the conflict to cease IHL violations and abuses and violations of international human rights law in Darfur and to adhere to their obligations under these laws.

Tags: Insights on Africa, Sanctions, Sudan

View original: https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/whatsinblue/2024/03/sudan-sanctions-vote-on-a-draft-resolution.php

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