US seeks UN expansion of Sudan embargo

The United States is pushing at the U.N. for a broad expansion of the Darfur arms embargo to cover all of Sudan, including drones, arguing that external military support is prolonging a four-year conflict that has caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions. Sudan’s UN ambassador Al-Harith Idris cautioned that a blanket embargo would hamper the Sudanese Armed Forces’ ability to defend civilians and warned against equating the two sides’ drone use. US envoy Massad Boulos pressed the Security Council to curb external support and regional spillover, while Russia signaled opposition to measures affecting the Sudanese army. U.N. officials and rights groups have highlighted ongoing external military and logistical backing to both sides, noting it fuels the war and undermines mediation. With the Darfur embargo due to expire on September 12, 2026, there is heightened urgency for a new Security Council decision and tighter monitoring of violations, including drones under the embargo. The proposed resolution would expand expert scrutiny across all of Sudan and coordinate with other expert panels to identify violations and enforce asset freezes and travel bans.