A resolution calling on the United Nations Security Council to enforce the existing arms embargo on Darfur and extend it to cover all of Sudan.

Bill Number

S.Res. 126

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-12: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S1716-1717)

Last Updated

2026-06-10T11:22:41Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

S. Res. 126 is a non-binding Senate resolution introduced on March 12, 2025, by Senators Booker and Rounds. Its primary goal is to urge the United Nations Security Council to strengthen and expand the existing arms embargo on Darfur (originally imposed in 2004) to cover the entire country of Sudan. This aims to address the ongoing conflict between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which has caused widespread civilian suffering, atrocities, and humanitarian crises since April 2023.

Key Provisions Outlined

The resolution includes extensive "Whereas" clauses detailing the conflict's background, including casualties (potentially up to 150,000 deaths), displacement (over 12.5 million people), genocide, war crimes, and foreign arms supplies. It then outlines the Senate's specific actions in the "Resolved" section:

• Condemnations: Strongly condemns atrocities by all warring parties in Sudan and specifically the genocide by the RSF and allied militias against the Masalit people and other non-Arab ethnic groups in Darfur.
• Calls for Peace: Demands an immediate end to the war, violence, and atrocities.
• Urges UN Security Council Actions:
• Expand the Darfur arms embargo to all Sudanese territory and actors within its borders.
• Include dual-use equipment (items that can serve both civilian and military purposes) in the prohibited materials list.
• Create stricter enforcement of sanctions to hold violators accountable.
• Establish mechanisms for unrestricted humanitarian aid delivery and civilian protection.
• Urges UN General Assembly Actions: Pass a resolution for a nationwide ceasefire, recognition of atrocities, a broader arms embargo, aid delivery, and civilian protection.
• Urges US Government Actions:
• Boost support for Sudanese civil society and local groups monitoring atrocities, documenting arms flows, and providing aid.
• Improve US mechanisms for tracking atrocities and arms supply chains.
• Resume US foreign aid funding for famine- and war-affected areas.
• Develop support systems for victims of conflict-related sexual violence.
• Pressure the UN, African Union, allies, and partners to condemn atrocities, enforce embargoes, ensure aid access, protect civilians, end the conflict, and stop external arms supplies.

Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced

This resolution does not amend or create new US law, as it is a sense-of-the-Senate expression without legal force. However, it references and builds on existing UN resolutions (e.g., 1556 in 2004 for the Darfur embargo, expanded in 1591 in 2005 and renewed in 2024) by calling for their stricter enforcement and nationwide extension. It also aligns with US actions like State Department determinations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and genocide (as of December 2023 and January 2025), and Treasury sanctions on RSF and SAF leaders.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Could prompt the US State Department and Treasury to enhance monitoring, sanctions, and aid programs, potentially increasing funding and resources for Sudan-related efforts. It may also influence US diplomacy to rally international support.
• On Citizens: Aims to reduce violence and arms flows, potentially saving lives and easing suffering for Sudanese civilians facing displacement, famine, disease (e.g., cholera outbreaks), sexual violence, and child recruitment. However, as non-binding, impacts depend on follow-through by the US and UN.
• On International Relations: May strain ties with countries supplying arms to RSF or SAF (e.g., from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe) by highlighting violations. It could strengthen US-UN and US-African Union cooperation on human rights and embargoes, while pressuring global actors for ceasefires and aid.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Sudanese Civilians and Communities: Primary victims, including displaced persons, ethnic minorities (e.g., Masalit), women, children, and those in conflict zones like Darfur, Khartoum, and Kordofan; they stand to benefit from reduced violence and better aid.
• Warring Parties: RSF (led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo) and SAF (led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan), targeted by calls for accountability and embargo expansion.
• US Government Entities: State Department, Treasury, and USAID, urged to increase monitoring, sanctions, aid, and diplomatic pressure.
• International Bodies and Actors: UN Security Council and General Assembly (for embargo enforcement and resolutions); African Union; foreign governments and non-state actors supplying arms (e.g., via cargo flights from Chad or Port Sudan); humanitarian organizations like UNICEF and Human Rights Watch.
• Civil Society: Local Sudanese groups and international NGOs documenting atrocities and delivering aid, positioned for more US support.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces international humanitarian law by invoking UN resolutions and fact-finding reports on war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. It highlights potential liability for arms suppliers under international norms, though enforcement remains challenging (e.g., only one prior sanction for Darfur violations).
• Constitutional: As a Senate resolution, it exercises Congress's oversight role in foreign policy under Article I of the US Constitution, signaling bipartisan concern (introduced by Democrats and Republicans) without binding the executive branch.
• Political: Represents a strong US stance on Sudan's crisis, echoing prior determinations by Secretary Blinken. It could build momentum for multilateral action but risks diplomatic pushback from arms-supplying nations. The resolution's focus on genocide and atrocities may influence future US policy, aid allocations, or sanctions, while underscoring the limits of non-binding measures in addressing global conflicts.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

Cosponsors (3)

Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD], Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-12: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S1716-1717)
• 2025-03-12: Submitted in Senate

Bill Versions

• Calling on the United Nations Security Council to enforce the existing arms embargo on Darfur and extend it to cover all of Sudan. — issued 2025-03-12 — PDF (9 pages)