UN Security Council Urged to Expand Arms Embargo to All of Sudan Amid Atrocities: Resolution Calls for Immediate Action

This resolution pushes the UN Security Council to get serious about the existing arms embargo in Darfur and expand it to cover the entire country of Sudan. Why? Because the conflict that started back in April 2023 between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has been absolutely devastating. We're talking tens of thousands of civilian casualties, over 12 million people displaced, and widespread trauma, echoing the Darfur genocide of the early 2000s.

Stopping the Weapons Flow

The core of this resolution is about cutting off the supply of weapons fueling the fire. Right now, UN Security Council Resolution 1556 (2004) and subsequent resolutions (1591 and 1945) put an arms embargo on Darfur. But, the resolution points out, weapons are still getting in – from both state and non-state actors – to both the RSF and SAF. There are reports of weapons flowing through neighboring countries and cargo planes delivering arms. This resolution wants the UN to clamp down, hard, and extend the embargo nationwide.

Beyond Just Guns: "Dual-Use" Equipment

It's not just about guns. The resolution also wants the embargo to include "dual-use" equipment. Think: items that could be used for military purposes, even if they're not explicitly weapons. It calls for stricter enforcement of sanctions against anyone violating the embargo. The resolution also highlights that only one individual has ever been sanctioned for breaking the Darfur arms embargo, which is frankly, ridiculous.

Humanitarian Crisis and Atrocities

This conflict isn't just about territory; it's a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe. The resolution condemns the violence by all sides and specifically calls out the genocide against the Masalit and other non-Arab groups in Darfur. It demands an immediate end to the war and all atrocities.

Here's the grim reality, straight from the bill's text:

• Up to 150,000 people may have died in the first year of the war.
• At least 60,000 people have died in Khartoum state alone.
• A cholera outbreak has resulted in over 550,000 cases and 1,500 deaths.
• Widespread sexual violence and forced recruitment of children.

Both the RSF and SAF are implicated in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. The resolution points out that supplying weapons to groups committing these atrocities could make other countries and groups complicit.

Aid and Protection

The resolution isn't just about stopping the bad stuff; it's also about helping the people caught in the crossfire. It urges the UN to create ways to deliver humanitarian aid and protect civilians. It calls on the UN General Assembly to pass a resolution for a nationwide ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian aid, and a mechanism to protect civilians.

What the US Needs to Do

Finally, the resolution pushes the U.S. Government to step up. It calls for:

• More support for civil society groups on the ground.
• Better monitoring of atrocities and how weapons are getting into the country.
• Restarting funding for famine and war-affected areas.
• Developing mental health support for victims of sexual violence (specifically mentioning support for women and children, citing over 220 cases of child rape since the start of 2024).
• Pushing the UN, African Union, and other allies to condemn the atrocities, support a stronger arms embargo, ensure aid delivery, protect civilians, and pressure both the SAF and RSF to end the conflict (and for external actors to stop supplying them with weapons). The resolution also mentions a draft submitted to the UN Security Council on November 18, 2024 that called for a nationwide ceasefire and more humanitarian aid.

Basically, this resolution is a call to action – to stop the violence, hold those responsible accountable, and help the people of Sudan who are suffering immensely.