Security Council adopts Darfur experts resolution without gold sanctions
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February 10, 2016 (WASHINGTON) — The U.N. Security Council extended
for one year a panel of experts monitoring violations of the UN arms
embargo in Darfur, without reference to the controversial illicit gold
mining in the western Sudan region.
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A UN Security Council meeting (Photo: UN/Paulo Filgueiras)
In a meeting held on Wednesday, the Security council unanimously
adopted a resolution expending until March 12, 2017 the Panel of
Experts on the Sudan established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) .
However, the Security Council’s decision didn’t take into account the
recommendations designating for sanctions individuals and entities
that impose illegal taxes on artisanal gold miners, also it designated
people engaged in the illegal exploitation and trafficking of gold.
"Recalling the report (S/2015/3l) by the Panel of Experts, and
expressing its intent to further study, through the Committee, the
Panel’s recommendations and to consider appropriate next steps," says
the resolution.
The initial version drafted by the United States and supported by the
United Kingdom provided that profits from the illicit trade in gold
and other natural resources in Darfur may constitute a threat to
stability in Darfur and the region.
However, Russia, China, and other non permanent members were opposed
to this attempt.
"Russia proved most unreceptive to the Panel’s report, rejecting
proposed compromise language that would have only “expressed concern”
over the Panel’s finding that armed groups control artisanal gold
mines in Darfur," said Enough Project an American advocacy group in a
statement issued after the vote .
"By doing so, these Security Council members undermine important
efforts to bring peace and stability to Darfur and allow those
profiting from this illicit trade to continue doing so with impunity,”
said John Prendergast, Founding Director of the Enough Project.
On the other hand, a Senior Advisor to the group, Omer Ismail, pointed
to the impact of the illicit gold trade on the conflict in Darfur
saying it is " most evident near Jebel Amer, where former Janjaweed
leader Musa Hilal controls a significant mining operation outside of
the control of the Government of Sudan.
He further accused Hilal of making millions from Sudanese gold at the
expense of the local population.
Gold is the primary source of hard currency for Sudan since the
secession of South Sudan in 2011. The government is expecting that
country’s gold production reaches 100 tonnes in 2016.
In Khartoum, the Sudanese government strongly reacted to this step and
summoned the United States chargé d’affaires in Khartoum, Jerry
Lanier, to protest against the draft resolution.
Also, the Sudanese mining minister Mohamed Sadiq al-Karuri Wednesday
met with the Russian Ambassador to Sudan Mirgayas M.Shirinskiy to
brief him about the mining industry in the country
According to a statement released after the meeting, al-Karuri
stressed that Sudan’ gold production does not fund the war as it is
claimed by some "western circles and the U.S".
The minister said gold is the main source of poor family income in Sudan.
He further that 82% of Sudan gold production comes from the artisanal
mining, adding more than one million Sudanese are gold miners and
their production feed more than 5 million people
He stressed that gold companies work in safe zones far from the
conflict affected areas.
The Security Council requests the Panel of Experts to provide a
midterm update on its work to the Sanctions Committee no later than
Aug. 12 2016 and to submit a final report to the Council by Jan. 13,
2017, said the resolution.
Otherwise, the resolution is identical to last year’s resolution on
the Sudan Panel of Experts.
The resolution 1591 (2005) places a travel ban and asset freeze on
those "impeding the peace process" in Darfur. A panel of experts was
subsequently established to monitor the arms embargo on Darfur.
(ST)
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