Angola Sanctions Violators Risk Penalties, U.N. Says
The Security Council on Tuesday warned countries accused of violating sanctions against Angola’s UNITA rebels that they may face U.N. penalties for having helped the rebels restart their war with the government.
In a unanimously adopted resolution, the council gave the accused six months to challenge an independent report on embargo breaches and demonstrate their adherence to sanctions before the council considers taking action.
While vague, the resolution marks the first time the council has formally suggested applying so-called secondary sanctions for U.N. embargo violations, diplomats said.
An independent panel alleged last month that the leaders of two African nations, Burkina Faso and Togo, helped UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi with arms and fuel shipments in exchange for diamonds. And it accused Belgium of having such lax standards at its diamond market that rogue dealers were able to trade UNITA gems. The countries implicated have denied the allegations.
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