Recent Sanctions-related UN Resolutions

29 November 2010 – With Resolution 1952 the Security Council determinesthat the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region and decidesto renew until 30 November 2011 the arms, transport, financial and travel measures imposed by resolution 1807 (2008).

22 December 2008 – With resolution 1857 the Security Council decides to renew the arms and transport embargo as well as the assets freeze and travel ban until 30 November 2009. The measures shall also be reviewed and adjusted to the security sector reform (SSR) and in disarming, demobilizing and reintegrating (DDR) Congolese and foreign armed groups before 30 November 2009.

The mandate of the Committee is expanded to regularly review the list of individuals and entities and to keep the list updated. The mandate of the Group of Experts is decided to also include in its report to the Committee relevant information and updates about listed individuals. It is also decided that member states shall provide the Committee detailed information about individuals and statement of case when proposing names for listing. When a name is removed from the list, the Permanent Missions of the country where the individual is believed to be located shall be notified.

31 March 2008 - With Resolution 1807 the Security Council decides to renew the measures on arms and travel and the assets freeze until 31 December 2008. All states shall in advance notify to the Committee of any shipment of arms or military assistance to the DRC and cooperate fully with the Group of Experts for an effective implementation of the sanctions. The SC also decides to terminate the widening of the arms embargo imposed in 2005 (UNSCR 1596).

15 February 2008 - With Resolution 1799 the Security Council decides to renew the measures on arms, travel and assets and the mandate of the Group of Experts until 31 March 2008.

10 August 2007 – With resolution 1771 the Security Council decides to renew the previously imposed arms embargo until 15 February 2008. It reaffirms that the measures do not apply to supplies of arms and related materiel or technical training and assistance intended solely for support of or by use of the army and police of the DRC. It is decided that measures do not apply to such assistance agreed to by the Government and intended solely for support of the army and police in the process of their integration in the provinces of North and South Kivu and the Ituru district. The Security Council decides to renew the travel- and the assets freeze ban imposed on those violating the arms embargo. States in the region are called upon to support the implementation of the arms embargo and to cooperate fully with the Committee in carrying out its mandate. All parties and all states should cooperate fully with the work of the group of Experts and ensure unhindered and immediate access to documents deemed relevant to the Group. No later than February 15, 2008, shall the measures on arms, travel and assets be reviewed in light of the security situation in the country, particularly the progress in security sector reform and in disarming, demobilizing and reintegrating Congolese and foreign armed groups.

31 July 2006 - With resolution 1698 the Security Council decides to renew or reaffirm the previously imposed measures, including an arms embargo and travel ban and assets freezes, until 31 July 2007. The reason being the parties have not yet complied with the demands of the earlier resolutions. The mandate of the Group of Experts is extended and scheduled to end on 31 July 2007. It is decided that the travel ban and asset freeze shall apply to individuals designated by the Committee and that are: “Political and military leaders recruiting or using children in armed conflict in violation of applicable international law; Individuals committing serious violations of international law involving the targeting of children in situations of armed conflict, including killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction and forced displacement”.

31 January 2006- The Security Council requested, through resolution 1654 (2006) that the Group of Experts be re-established for a period lasting until 31 July 2006. The Group of Experts is to continue its mandate as set out by resolution 1533, 1596 and 1649.27

January 2006 – In resolution 1653 (2006) concerning DRC and Burundi, the countries of the Great Lakes region are called upon to increase their cooperation with the SC Committee and the Group of Experts concerning the arms embargo in DRC. They are to combat cross-border movement of combatants and the trafficking of illicit weapons and natural resources, as well as the movement of combatants.

21 December 2005 – The Security Council notes in resolution 1649 (2005) that the situation in the DRC still poses a threat to security in the region and that foreign armed groups are still present in the eastern part of DRC.
It is decided that measures already decided in paragraphs 13 to 16 of resolution 1596 shall be extended to cover political and military leaders of foreign armed groups and domestic militias receiving outside support who impede the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration.
These measures enter into force on 15 January 2006 and are again reviewed on 31 July 2006 when the measures expire.
The sanctions can also be ended earlier if the Secretary-General informs the Council that the disarmament process has been completed.
In the resolution it is further demanded that the government of the DRC and of the neighbouring states take measures to prevent violations of the arms embargo and to hinder support to the illegal exploitation of natural resources of the DRC.  

29 July 2005, the Security Council, by adopting resolution 1616 (2005), decides to renew the measures referred to below until 31 July 2006 and re-establishes the Group of Experts to oversee the implementation of the sanctions imposed.

27 July 2005, the Security Council extended the weapons embargo against movements and armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo, set to expire on 31 July, for a further year, by adopting resolution 1552 . The group of experts mandated to monitor the arms embargo and report back to the Security Council presented its report on July 15 (document S/2004/551).
The experts had found, among other things, that the arms embargo is violated directly and indirectly by Rwandan supported dissident military leaders, among others. The group of experts was re-established for a period ending on 31 January 2005, to continue to monitor the embargo.

18 April 2005, The Security Council has decided to widen the existing arms embargo to also apply on any recipient within that country's territory, and not only to parties outside the Global and All-Inclusive agreement on the Transition in the DRC. In addition, a travel ban and an assets freeze was imposed on those violating the embargo. See UNSCR 1596 (2005)

12 March 2004, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1533 which inter alia establishes a Sanctions Committee, an Expert Panel and authorizes MONUC to monitor, collect and dispose of arms in violation of the arms embargo. The Sanctions Committee is mandated to seek information on the implementation of the arms embargo and to examine alleged violations of the measures. The Expert Panel is to present a report on the implementation of the arms embargo to the Council in July 2004.

28 July 2003 the Security Council decided to impose an arms ban on all arms and related materiel and assistance, advice or training related to military activities. This is to be applied on all foreign and Congolese armed groups and militias and to groups not party to the Global and All-inclusive agreement, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This decision is a result of the continuation of the hostilities in DRC and by the grave violations of human rights and humanitarian law that accompany them. The decision will be reviewed by the Council at the end of a 12 month period.
See UNSCR 1493 (2003). No monitoring mechanism has been established to monitor the implementation of the arms embargo.

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