The UN Security Council today renewed, until 15 April, sanctions which it imposed in a resolution it adopted last year, directed at those blocking peace in South Sudan.

It also extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts tasked with overseeing the sanctions until 15 May.

“Determining that the situation in South Sudan remained a threat to regional peace and security, the Security Council today renewed (the) sanctions, including a travel ban and asset freeze, imposed by resolution 2206 (2015),” says a statement summarizing the meeting.

Security Council Resolution 2206 decided that for an initial period of one year from the date of adoption of the resolution, all Member States shall take the necessary measures to prevent the entry into or transit through their territories of any individuals designated by the Committee, provided that nothing in this paragraph shall oblige a State to refuse its own nationals entry into its territory.

“All Member States shall freeze without delay all funds, other financial assets and economic resources on their territories, owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any individuals or entities that may be designated by the Committee, or by any individuals or entities acting on their behalf or at their direction, or by entities owned or controlled by them,” the resolution also decided.

It further declared that all Member States shall ensure that neither these nor any other funds, financial assets nor economic resources are made available, directly or indirectly for such persons’ benefit, by their nationals or by persons within their territory.

In the meeting, the Council also decided to extend until 15 May the mandate of the Panel of Experts overseeing the sanctions, with the intention to review the mandate and decide, no later than 15 April, on its further renewal.

The Panel of Experts was created by the UN Secretary-General on the request of the Security Council for an initial period of 13 months.

The Panel is tasked with assisting the Committee in carrying out its mandate, including providing the Committee with information relevant to the potential designation of individuals and entities established as being responsible for or complicit in, or having engaged in, directly or indirectly, actions or policies threatening South Sudan’s peace, security or stability.

Other tasks include gathering, examining, and analyzing information regarding the implementation of the measures decided in resolution 2206, as well as information regarding the supply, sale or transfer of arms and related materiel and related military or other assistance.