Sudan remains under sanctions… details

The UN Security Council has decided to extend international sanctions against Sudan for one year, despite Khartoum’s repeated calls for their removal.

Thirteen countries voted in favor of the extension until March 12, 2024, while Russia and China abstained, according to Agence France Presse.

Sudan has repeatedly called on the Security Council to lift sanctions and an arms embargo imposed during the 2005 war in Darfur.

Khartoum believes that the reasons for the continuation of the sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council are “over,” and accuses Western countries of obstructing their lifting.

Regarding the sanctions, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Al-Sadeq said, “The sanctions resolution was issued when there was a war in Darfur between the government and armed movements, and about 18 years have passed since then.”

In an interview with Bahrain’s Al-Watan newspaper on February 27th, Al-Sadeq added, “Great changes have taken place on the ground and in the political arena, which require the cancelation of this decision and the lifting of the sanctions imposed on Sudan.”

“Firstly, there is no more war in Darfur, secondly, most of the refugees have returned to their normal lives in their villages, and thirdly, those who fought the Sudanese army at that time are now members of the Sovereign Council, including ministers and regional governors,” he said.

The Sudanese Minister concluded that there had been a complete change in political life, which necessitated the annulment of this decision.

As for the reasons behind the delay in lifting the UN sanctions on Sudan, Al Sadeq, in his interview, accused “three countries, namely Britain, France, and the United States of America, of refusing to lift the sanctions.”