Sudan’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday summoned the US chargé d’affaires in Khartoum over Washington’s draft UN Security Council resolution adding restrictions on gold mining to the sanctions related to the Darfur conflict.
A 2005 UN Security Council resolution placed a travel ban and asset freeze on those “impeding the peace process” in Darfur, and established a UN panel of experts to monitor the arms embargo on Darfur.
The US draft on the extension of the resolution this week included “unfair clauses” on gold mining in Sudan, Sudan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
“The draft resolution contradicts the general spirit of bilateral relations between the two countries, especially in light of the US envoy’s recent visit to Sudan and the meeting of the Foreign Minister with President Obama in Addis Ababa and with US Secretary of State John Kerry.”
In its meeting on Wednesday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution extending the Panel of Experts on the Sudan until 12 March next year.
No reference was included to the controversial gold mining in Darfur. The US, supported by the UK, had recommended the sanctioning of individuals and entities that impose illegal taxes on traditional gold miners, and those engaged in the illegal exploitation and trafficking of gold.
However, Russia, China, and other, non-permanent members were opposed to this version.
Gold has been a main source of income in Sudan since it became an oil importer when South Sudan seceded in 2011. The new nation took with it three-quarters of Sudan’s oil output, which used to be the main source of foreign currency to support the Sudanese pound and to pay for food and other imports.
Khartoum expects the country’s gold production to reach 100 tonnes this year.
The Sudanese Minister of Minerals and Mining, Ahmed El Karouri, met on Wednesday with the Russian ambassador to Sudan.
In a statement released after the meeting, El Karouri stressed that Sudan’s gold production does not fund the war “as it is claimed by some western circles and the USA”, but constitutes the main source of the income of many poor families in the country.
He stated that 82 percent of Sudan’s gold production comes from traditional artisinal mining. More than one million Sudanese are gold miners, and their production feed more than five million people. He further stressed that gold companies work in safe zones far from the conflict affected areas.
The Panel of Experts is to provide a midterm update on its work to the UN Sanctions Committee no later than 12 August this year, and to submit a final report to the Security Council by 13 January 2017.