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Accueil » Sudan

Sudan

Status of the embargoOngoing
EntityState
Organisation(s) imposing embargo(es)UN & EU
Restriction(s)Conventional weapons
ExceptionsYes, no prior notification or approval
Yes, prior approval

Sudan is currently under UN and EU arms embargoes. Unlike the EU arms embargo, that of the UN only applies to a segment of Sudanese terriotry, i.e. Darfur.

UN

Sudan has been under UN arms embargo since July 2004 (Resolution 1556 (2004)). Unlike the EU embargo covering the entire Sudanese territory, the UN embargo is limited to Darfur.

  1. Conventional weapons

Prohibitions

The current sanctions regime, as detailed in Resolution 1556 (2004), updated and completed by Resolutions 1591 (2005), 1945 (2010) and 2035 (2012), decides  that all states shall take the necessary measures to prevent :

  • the sale or supply, to all non-governmental entities and individuals, including the Janjaweed, operating in the states of North Darfur, South Darfur and West Darfur, of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned (Resolution 1556 (2004), para.7). these measures also apply to all the parties to the N’djamena Ceasefire Agreement and any other belligerents in the states of North Darfur, South Darfur and West Darfur (Resolution 1591 (2005), para. 7).
  • any provision to the non-governmental entities and individuals identified in paragraph 7 operating in the states of North Darfur, South Darfur and West Darfur by their nationals or from their territories of technical training or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of the items aforementioned (Resolution 1556 (2004), para.8).

Exceptions

However, the sanctions regime provides for several exceptions.

Requiring prior approval from the UN Sanctions Committee:

  • the movement of military equipment and supplies into the Darfur region with the prior request of the Government of Sudan (Resolution 1591 (2005), para. 3, a, v).

Requiring no prior approval or notification from/to the UN Sanctions Committee:

  • supplies and related technical training and assistance to monitoring, verification or peace support operations, including such operations led by regional organizations, that are authorized by the United Nations or are operating with the consent of the relevant parties (Resolution 1556 (2004), para.9).
  • supplies of non-lethal military equipment intended solely for humanitarian, human rights monitoring or protective use, and related technical training and assistance (Resolution 1556 (2004), para.9).
  • supplies of protective clothing, including flak jackets and military helmets, for the personal use of United Nations personnel, human rights monitors, representatives of the media and humanitarian and development workers and associated personnel (Resolution 1556 (2004), para.9).

Others

The sanctions regime has been extended to September 12, 2025 (Resolution 2750 (2024), para.1).

Sudan is also under EU arms embargo covering the entire Sudanese territory.

EU

Sudan has been under EU arms embargo since March 1994 (Council Decision 94/165/CFSP). This former regime also applied to South Sudan until July 2011 (Decision 2011/423/CFSP). However, since July 2014, a specific sanctions regime is dedicated to Sudan (Decision 2014/450/CFSP).

  1. Conventional weapons

Prohibitions

The current sanctions regime, as detailed in updated versions of Decision 2014/450/CFSP and Regulation 747/2014, prohibits :

  • the sale, supply, transfer or export of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment and spare parts for the aforementioned to Sudan (Decision 2014/450/CFSP, art.1, para.1).
  • The provision of technical assistance training or other assistance as well as financial assistance or financing related to military activities and items aforementioned to any natural or legal person, entity or body in, or for use in, Sudan (Decision 2014/450/CFSP, art.1, para.2, a and Regulation 747/2014, art. 2).

Exceptions

However, the sanctions regime provides for several exceptions.

Requiring no prior approval or notification from/to the UN Sanctions Committee:

  • The sale, supply, transfer or export of non-lethal military equipment intended solely for humanitarian, human rights monitoring or protective use, or for institution-building programmes of the UN, the African Union (AU), the European Union, or of materiel intended for the European Union, UN and AU crisis management operations, as well as the provision of technical assistance, brokering services, financing or financial assistance related to these item (Decision 2014/450/CFSP, art.2, para.1, a,c and d, and Regulation 747/2014, art.3, a and b).
  • The sale, supply, transfer or export of non-combat vehicles which have been manufactured or fitted with materials to provide ballistic protection, intended solely for the protective use, in Sudan, by personnel of the European Union and its Member States, or by UN or AU personnel (Decision 2014/450/CFSP, art.2, para.1, b).
  • The sale, supply, transfer or export of de-mining equipment and materiel for use in de-mining operations, as well as the provision of technical assistance, brokering service and financial assistance related (Decision 2014/450/CFSP, art.2, para.1, e and Regulation 747/2014, art.3, c).
  • The supply, sale or transfer of protective clothing, including flak jackets and military helmets, temporarily exported to Sudan by UN personnel, personnel of the European Union or its Member States, representatives of the media, humanitarian and development workers and associated personnel for their personal use only, as well as the provision of technical assistance, brokering service and financial assistance related (Decision 2014/450/CFSP, art.2, para.2 and Regulation 747/2014, art.4).

Decision 2014/450/CFSP calls upon EU Member-States to require sufficient safeguards against misuse and diversion of exported items and, where appropriate, make provisions for repatriation of the equipment (Decision 2014/450/CFSP, art.2, para.3).

Others

The EU arms embargo is indefinite but Decision 2014/450/CFSP provides that arms-related sanctions will be reviewed on a regular basis at least every 12 months, and if necessary, be repealed (Decision 2014/450/CFSP, art. 9).

Sudan is also under UN arms embargo.

Restrictions diagram:

Conventional weapons