All three African members of the Security Council – Kenya, Ghana and Gabon – joined China and Russia on 30 June in abstaining from a resolution that extends the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) sanctions regime for another year through to June 2023. Nevertheless, the French-drafted resolution easily passed, with all 10 other Security Council members, including the US, voting in favour.
A key point of contention for the African bloc was the requirement that the DRC give advanced notification to the UN sanctions committee of any arms shipments or provision of military assistance, advice or training in the country. The notification requirement has been in place since 2008, but is coming under increased scrutiny amid reports that DRC is vastly outgunned by Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23),rebels and other militant groups in eastern Congo. Ahead of the vote, Ghana’s envoy to the UN released a sta
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