UN extends partial Sudan arms embargo for a month | Sudan war News
UN Security Council Extends Arms Embargo on Darfur Amidst Contentious Negotiations
Published on September 11, 2026
The United Nations Security Council has unanimously voted to extend the arms embargo on Sudan’s western Darfur region for an additional month, allowing for further discussions on a controversial U.S. proposal aimed at implementing a nationwide ban.
During a session on Friday, all 15 council members approved the one-month extension of existing measures, designed to provide additional time for negotiations concerning potential modifications to the sanctions regime.
U.S. Ambassador Jeff Bartos expressed strong support for the resolution, stating that the current sanctions framework has become outdated and inadequately addresses the ongoing conflict. “The current sanctions regime is over 20 years outdated, and is insufficient to address the realities of the war today,” Bartos said during the meeting.
The U.S. is advocating for an expansion of the embargo across Sudan, aiming to pressure the various warring factions to halt their prolonged conflict that has persisted for over three years. Bartos emphasized the need to broaden the arms embargo nationwide and include measures targeting severe violations such as conflict-related sexual violence, kidnappings for ransom, and attacks on humanitarian personnel.
The international community imposed the original arms embargo on Darfur following the outbreak of violence in 2003, which began when rebel groups launched an armed uprising against the government in Khartoum, then led by Omar al-Bashir. In response, the government conducted airstrikes and ground offensives with the assistance of militias known as the Popular Defence Forces, or “Janjaweed,” which have been accused of committing mass atrocities. The conflict has resulted in an estimated 300,000 deaths and displaced around 2.7 million people.
Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council with veto power, has signaled its opposition to any expansion of the arms embargo. Deputy UN Ambassador Anna Evstigneeva stated that Moscow would not permit even slight broadening of restrictions on Sudan. She questioned the timing of the U.S. proposal, suggesting that it is unjustified given the Sudanese government’s current military advantages.
Sudan’s UN Ambassador Al-Harith Mohamed countered the U.S. position, asserting that a comprehensive arms embargo contravenes the UN Charter, which guarantees nations the right to self-defense and permits them to acquire arms necessary for protecting their sovereignty.
The U.S. previously called for a nationwide arms embargo at a council meeting on August 24, hoping to encourage the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces to engage in negotiations to end hostilities that erupted in April 2023. Since the onset of the current conflict, aid organizations estimate at least 59,000 people have been killed, with projections suggesting that the actual number could be substantially higher. Moreover, the ongoing violence has displaced approximately 13 million individuals and contributed to severe food insecurity, leading to one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
