The U.S. circulated a U.N. draft resolution to widen sanctions on Sudan's warring sides.
Why it matters: Sudan's war has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and deepened famine conditions. A stronger sanctions push could affect ceasefire talks and test whether the Security Council can move on the conflict.
- On Aug. 24, 2026, the U.S. backed a draft Security Council resolution aimed at Sudan's military and the Rapid Support Forces.
- The draft says external military assistance, weapons and ammunition are prolonging the war and undercutting mediation.
- AP says the fighting has killed at least 59,000 people and displaced about 13 million.
- Sudan's sanctions regime traces to U.N. Resolution 1591, adopted in 2005 and overseen by a Security Council committee.
The U.S. has circulated a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that would broaden sanctions pressure on Sudan's warring sides, according to AP and Sudan Tribune.
The draft says the "continuous influx of external military assistance, weapons, and ammunition to the warring parties" is prolonging the conflict and weakening mediation efforts, AP reported. Sudan Tribune said the proposal would expand the arms embargo across all of Sudan and include unmanned aerial vehicles.
The move comes as Sudan's war, which began in April 2023 after tensions between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces erupted into open fighting, continues to drive mass displacement and hunger. AP reports the war has killed at least 59,000 people and displaced about 13 million.
The Security Council already maintains a Sudan sanctions regime tied to Darfur under Resolution 1591, adopted in 2005. The new draft would widen the focus beyond Darfur and put fresh pressure on both sides to negotiate.
It is not yet clear whether Council members will adopt the proposal.
By the numbers
- 59,000 - AP's reported minimum death toll from the war
- 13 million - AP's estimate of people displaced by the conflict
- 2005 - year the U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 1591
Yes, but: Adoption is uncertain, and the draft's reach could still change as Council members negotiate.
What's next: The U.N. Security Council will have to decide whether to take up and vote on the draft resolution.