The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004) concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo was established on 12 March 2004 to oversee the relevant sanctions measures and to undertake the tasks set out by the Security Council in paragraph 15 of resolution 1807 (2008).
On 31 March 2008, the Security Council adopted resolution 1807 (2008), amending and renewing until 31 December 2008 the sanctions regime on the DRC, and extending the mandate of the Group of Experts for the same period. The Council limited the applicability of the arms embargo, previously imposed by paragraph 20 of resolution 1493 and paragraph 1 of resolution 1596 (2005), to all non-governmental entities and individuals operating in the DRC territory, and clarified that the measures on arms and technical training no longer apply to the Government of the DRC. The Council further decided that all States shall notify in advance to the Committee any shipment of arms and related materiel for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or any provision of assistance, advice or training related to military activities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, except those referred to in subparagraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph 3 above, and stresses the importance that such notifications contain all relevant information, including, where appropriate, the end-user, the proposed date of delivery and the itinerary of shipments.
In addition, by paragraph 13 (e) the Council decided to extend the applicability of the travel ban and assets freeze to individuals operating in the DRC and committing serious violations of international law involving the targeting of women.
On 13 March 2008, the Council also adopted resolution 1804 (2008) by which, inter alia, it recalled that targeted sanctions apply to leaders of the FDLR, ex-FAR/Interahamwe and other Rwandan armed groups.
The Security Council first imposed an arms embargo on all foreign and Congolese armed groups and militias operating in the territory of North and South Kivu and Ituri, and on groups not party to the Global and All-inclusive agreement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 28 July 2003 with the adoption of resolution 1493. The sanctions regime was subsequently modified and strengthened with the adoption of resolutions 1533 (2004), 1596 (2005), 1649 (2005) and 1698 (2006) which, among other things, expanded the scope of the arms embargo, imposed additional targeted sanctions measures (travel ban and an assets freeze), and broadened the criteria under which individuals could be designated as subject to those measures.
| Measure | Description (unofficial) | Exceptions to the measure |
| Arms Embargo, paragraph 1 of resolution 1807 (2008) | All States shall take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer, from their territories or by their nationals, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, of arms and any related materiel, and the provision of any assistance, advice or training related to military activities, including financing and financial assistance, to all non-governmental entities and individuals operating in the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. |
Set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 1807 (2008) |
| Travel ban, paragraphs 9 and 13 of resolution 1807 (2008) Consolidated Travel Ban and Assets Freeze list |
All States shall take the necessary measures to prevent the entry into or transit through their territories of individuals designated by the Committee for inclusion on its consolidated travel ban and assets freeze list on the basis of criteria which include: 1) persons and entities acting in violation of the arms embargo; 2) political and military leaders of foreign armed groups operating in the DRC, or Congolese militias receiving support from abroad, who impede the process of disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, resettlement, and reintegration; 3) political and military leaders recruiting or using child-soldiers, and to individuals violating international law involving the targeting of children. 4) Individuals operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and committing serious violations of international law involving the targeting of children or women in situations of armed conflict, including killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction and forced displacement. | Set out in paragraph 10 of resolution 1807 (2008) |
| Assets freeze, paragraphs 11 and 13 of resolution 1807 (2008) Consolidated Travel Ban and Assets Freeze List |
Decides that all States shall freeze the funds, other financial assets and economic resources owned or controlled by individuals and entities designated by the Committee for inclusion on the consolidated travel ban and assets freeze list on the basis of the criteria set out above for the travel ban. | Set out in paragraph 12 |
States implement the travel ban and assets freeze measures in connection with individuals and entities included in the consolidated travel ban and assets freeze list, which is maintained and regularly updated by the Committee.
The current Chairman of the Committee, for the period ending 31 December 2008, is His Excellency Mr. R.M. Marty Muliana Natalegawa (Indonesia). The two Vice-Chairs for 2008 are Costa Rica and Vietnam. The Committee publishes annual reports of its activities. The latest news on the Committee’s work can be found here. For other selected documents click here.
Formal and informal meetings of the Committee are announced in the Journal of the United Nations.
The Committee is supported by a Group of Experts originally established by resolution 1533 (2004) and subsequently renewed by resolutions 1552 (2004), 1596 (2005), 1616 (2005), 1654 (2006), 1698 (2006), 1771 (2007) and 1807 (2008). Pursuant to resolution 1807 (2008) the Group of Experts is due to report to the Security Council, in writing and through the Committee by 15 August 2008 and before 15 November 2008. Previous reports of the Group of Experts can be accessed here.
Under the sanctions regime, the United Nations Mission in the DRC (MONUC) is requested to monitor the situation with regard to arms supplies and the position and movements of armed groups, and to focus its monitoring activities in North and South Kivu and in Ituri.