Under Article 41 of the UN Charter, the Security Council may call upon Member States to apply measures not involving the use of armed force in order to maintain or restore international peace and security. Such measures are commonly referred to as sanctions. The Security Council has invoked Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter to impose sanctions in twelve cases: Southern Rhodesia, South Africa, former Yugoslavia, Iraq, Somalia, Libya, Liberia, Haiti, Angola, Rwanda, Sudan and Sierra Leone. In the case of Southern Rhodesia, South Africa, Haiti, and former Yugoslavia, sanctions have been fully lifted.

1. IRAQ

  Resolution 661 of 6 August 1990 imposed economic sanctions on Iraq, including a full trade embargo barring all imports from and exports to Iraq, excepting only medical supplies, foodstuffs, and other items of humanitarian need, as determined by the Security Council sanctions committee, which was also established by Resolution 661. The sanctions committee is chaired by the Ambassador of Portugal, with the delegations of Brazil and Gabon providing vice chairmen. (Note: All 15 Council Members sit on the sanctions committee).

 Resolution 687 of 3 April 1991, the cease-fire resolution, declared that the full trade embargo against Iraq would remain in place, pending periodic reviews every 60 days (para. 21) and every 120 days (para. 28) of Iraqi compliance with the obligations imposed under Resolution 687.

 Resolution 712 of 19 September 1991 allowed for a partial lifting of the embargo, which would have enabled Iraq to sell some oil to use the proceeds for humanitarian purposes. In return, Iraq would have been subject to strict UN monitoring of the contracts and distribution of humanitarian goods bought with the oil revenues.

 Resolution 986 of 14 April 1995 enables Iraq to sell up to $1 billion of oil every 90 days and use the proceeds for humanitarian supplies to the country. On 20 May 1996, the UN and the Government of Iraq concluded the Memorandum of Understanding which codified the practical arrangements for the implementation of the oil-for-food agreement. The sanctions committee subsequently adopted on 8 August 1996 the Procedures for the implementation of Resolution 986. On 9 December 1996, the Secretary-General reported to the Security Council (S/1996/1015) that all the steps necessary to ensure the effective implementation of Resolution 986 had been concluded. As a result, Resolution 986 went into effect at 00.01 Eastern Standard Time on 10 December 1996. The first food shipment arrived in Iraq on 20 March 1997.

 Resolution 1051 of 27 March 1996 established the export/import monitoring system for Iraq. Iraq and countries exporting to Iraq must notify UNSCOM (United Nations Special Commission) and the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) regarding the supply of "dual-use" items to Iraq. Such items are subject to inspection upon their arrival in Iraq as well as at the site where the items will be used.

 Resolution 1111 of 4 June 1997 decided that the provisions of Resolution 986 (1995), except those contained in paragraphs 4,11 and 12, shall remain in force for another period of 180 days beginning at 00.01 hours, Eastern Daylight Time, on 8 June 1997; further decided to conduct a thorough review of all aspects of the implementation of this resolution 90 days after the entry into force of paragraph 1 and again prior to the end of the 180 day period, on receipt of the reports referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4, and expressed its intention, prior to the end of the 180 day period, to consider favourably renewal of the provisions of this resolution, provided that the reports referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 indicate that those provisions are being satisfactorily implemented.

 Resolution 1115 of 21 June 1997 decided not to conduct the reviews provided for in paragraphs 21 and 28 of resolution 687 (1991) until after the Special Commission submits its next consolidated progress report due on 11 October 1997, after which time those reviews will resume in accordance with Resolution 687 (1991).

 Resolution 1129 of 12 September 1997 decided that the provisions of Resolution 1111 (1997) should remain in force, except that States are authorized to permit the import of petroleum and petroleum products originating in Iraq, including financial and other essential transactions directly relating thereto, sufficient to produce a sum not exceeding a total of one billion United States dollars within a period of 120 days from 00.01, Eastern Daylight Time, on 8 June 1997 and, thereafter, a sum not exceeding a total of one billion United States dollars within a period of 60 days from 00.01, Eastern Daylight Time, on 4 October 1997; and decided further that the provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply only to the period of implementation of Resolution 1111 (1997).

 Resolution 1134 dated 23 October 1997 expressed the firm intention, if Iraq does not comply with paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 1115 (1997), to adopt measures which would oblige all States to prevent without delay the entry into or transit through their territories of all Iraqi officials and members of the Iraqi armed forces who are responsible for or participate in the instances of non-compliance of paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 1115 (1997). It decided not to conduct the reviews provided for in paragraphs 21 and 28 of resolution 687 (1991) until after the next consolidated progress report of the Special Commission, due on 11 April 1998, after which those reviews will resume in accordance with resolution 687 (1991), beginning on 26 April 1998.

 Resolution 1137 dated 12 November 1997 imposed travel restrictions on all Iraqi officials and members of the Iraqi armed forces who were responsible for or participated in the instances of non-compliance including the denial of entry to Iraq to Special Commission officials on the grounds of their nationality and the denial of entry to sites designated by the Special Commission for inspection to Special Commission inspectors on the grounds of their nationality. The resolution decided that the review provided in paragraphs 21 and 28 of resolution 687 (1991) shall resume in April 1998 in accordance with paragraph 8 of resolution 1134 (1997), provided that the Government of Iraq shall have rescinded its decision of 29 October 1997 to impose conditions on cooperation with the Special Commission.

 By Resolution 1143 of 4 December 1997 the Security Council decided that the provisions of resolution 986 (1995), except those contained in paragraphs 4, 11 and 12, shall remain in force for another period of 180 days beginning at 00.01 hours, Eastern Standard Time, on 5 December 1997.

2. SOMALIA

  Resolution 733 of 23 January 1992 imposed an arms embargo. Resolution 751 of 24 April 1992 set up a Security Council sanctions committee. It is chaired by the Ambassador of Bahrain, with the delegations of Costa Rica and Gambia providing vice chairmen.

3. LIBYA

  Resolution 748 of 31 March 1992 imposed an arms and air embargo and a reduction of Libyan diplomatic personnel serving abroad. It also set up a Security Council sanctions committee, chaired by the Ambassador of Slovenia, with the delegations of Gabon and Portugal providing vice chairmen.

 Resolution 883 of 11 November 1993 tightened sanctions on Libya. In this resolution, the Security Council, among other items, approved the freezing of Libyan funds and financial resources in other countries and banned the provision to Libya of equipment for oil refining and transportation.

4. LIBERIA

  Resolution 788 of 19 November 1992 imposed an arms embargo. Resolution 985 of 13 April 1995 established a Security Council sanctions committee. It is chaired by the Ambassador of Costa Rica, with the delegations of Japan and Sweden providing vice chairmen.

5. ANGOLA

  Resolution 864 of 15 September 1993 imposed an oil and arms embargo on the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). It also set up a Security Council sanctions committee, which is chaired by the Ambassador of Kenya, with the delegations of Costa Rica and Japan providing vice chairmen.

 Resolution 1127 of 28 August 1997, under paragraph 4, imposed additional measures against UNITA such as restrictions on the travel of senior officials of UNITA and adult members of their families, the closure of all UNITA offices, the prohibition of flights of aircraft by or for UNITA, the supply of any aircraft or aircraft components to UNITA and the insurance, engineering and servicing of UNITA aircraft. The foregoing measures do not apply to cases of medical emergency or to flights of aircraft carrying food, medicine, or supplies for essential humanitarian needs, as approved in advance by the Committee established pursuant to Resolution 864 (1993).

Under paragraph 7 of this resolution, these measures were to come into force on 30 September 1997 unless the Security Council decided that UNITA had taken concrete and irreversible steps to comply with all the obligations set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 of Resolution 1127 (1997).

Resolution 1130 of 29 September 1997 postponed, until 30 October 1997, the coming into force of the measures specified in paragraph 4 of Resolution 1127 (1997).

 By resolution 1135 of 29 October 1997 the measures specified in paragraph 4 of resolution 1127 (1997) came into force on 00.01 EST on 30 October 1997 in accordance with paragraph 2 of resolution 1130 of 29 September 1997, and the Security Council reaffirmed its readiness to review these measures or to consider the imposition of additional measures in accordance with paragraphs 8 and 9 of resolution 1127 (1997).

6. RWANDA

  By Security Council Resolution 918 of 17 May 1994, the Security Council imposed an arms embargo on Rwanda. It also set up a Security Council sanctions committee, which is chaired by the Ambassador of Japan, with Bahrain and Sweden providing Vice Chairmen.

 Security Council Resolution 997 of 9 June 1995 also affirmed that the restrictions imposed under Resolution 918 apply to the sale or supply of arms material to persons in the States neighboring Rwanda if that sale or supply is for the purpose of the use of such arms or material within Rwanda. It also called upon the States neighboring Rwanda to take steps to ensure that such arms and material are not transferred to Rwandan camps. within their territories. By Security Council resolution 1005 of 17 July 1995 , the Security Council, notwithstanding the restrictions imposed by paragraph 13 of resolution 918 (1994), approved the supply of appropriate amounts of explosives intended exclusively for use in established humanitarian demining programmes.

 By Security Council Resolution 1011 of 16 August 1995, the Security Council decided to suspend until 1 September 1996 the arms embargo on the sale and supply of arms and related material to the Government of Rwanda, through specified points of entry, with the stipulation that the Government of Rwanda would be required to notify the Committee of all of its arms imports. Countries exporting to Rwanda were also required to notify the Committee.

In accordance with Resolution 1011, the Security Council terminated restrictions on the sale/supply of arms and related material to the Government of Rwanda effective 1 September 1996. However, the sale and supply of arms and related material to non-governmental forces for use in Rwanda remain prohibited.

7. SUDAN

  By Resolution 1054 of 26 April 1996, the Security Council decided that, unless Sudan complied with its demand to extradite the three suspects wanted in connection with the 26 June 1995 attempted assassination of President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and to stop supporting terrorist activities, limited diplomatic sanctions would be placed on Sudan. As of 10 May 1996 sanctions were imposed against the Sudan and Member States were required to reduce the number of Sudanese diplomatic personnel and restrict the entry/transit of Sudanese Government officials in their respective countries.

 By Resolution 1070, adopted on 16 August 1996, the Security Council decided that all States should deny aircraft permission to take off from, land in, or overfly their territories if the aircraft was registered in the Sudan, or owned, leased or operated or substantially owned or controlled by the Government or public authorities of the Sudan. However, the adopted sanctions measures were to enter into force pending a decision by the Council, within 90 days after the date of the adoption of resolution 1070, unless the Council decides before on the basis of a report by the Secretary-General (S/1996/940 of 14 November 1996). The aforementioned measures were not imposed against the Sudan.

8. SIERRA LEONE

  Resolution 1132 of 8 October 1997 imposed an oil and arms embargo, as well as restrictions on the travel of members of the military junta of Sierra Leone. It also established a Security Council sanctions committee to monitor the implementation of the sanctions. The committee is also authorized to approve applications, on a case-by-case basis, by the democratically-elected Government of Sierra Leone for the importation into Sierra Leone of petroleum and petroleum products as well as applications by any other government or by United Nations agencies for the importation of petroleum or petroleum products into Sierra Leone for verified humanitarian purposes, or for the needs of the Military Observer Group of ECOWAS (ECOMOG). The sanctions committee is chaired by the Ambassador of Sweden, with Costa Rica and Kenya providing vice chairmen.

By this resolution, the Security Council, under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, also authorizes ECOWAS to ensure strict implementation of the arms embargo and the supply of petroleum and petroleum products, which would involve inspection of incoming ships where necessary, and in conformity with applicable international standards and ECOWAS is required to report every 30 days to the committee on all activities undertaken in this regard.

9. EX-YUGOSLAVIA

  Resolution 713 of 25 September 1991 imposed a general and complete embargo on all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Yugoslavia. By its Resolution 727 of 8 January 1992, the Security Council reaffirmed the arms embargo and decided that the embargo applied in accordance with paragraph 33 of the Secretary-General's report S/23363 (that is, that it applied to all areas that had been part of Yugoslavia).

 Resolution 724 of 15 December 1991 set up a Security Council sanctions committee.

 Resolution 757 of 30 May 1992 imposed economic and other sanctions on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), including a full trade embargo, a flight ban, and the prevention of the participation of the FRY in sporting and cultural events. Resolution 787 of 16 November 1992 stated that the transshipment through the FRY of petroleum, coal, steel and other products, unless authorized on a case-by-case basis by the sanctions committee, would be prohibited. Resolution 820 of 17 April 1993 further strengthened the sanctions against the FRY.

 Resolution 942 of 23 September 1994 imposed sanctions against the Bosnian Serbs. Among other actions, the resolution prohibited States from admitting in their territories Bosnian Serb officials and military officers; prohibited trade with any entity owned or controlled by Bosnian Serb forces, except for relief supplies; and froze Bosnian Serb financial assets held abroad.

 Resolution 943 of 23 September 1994 suspended certain sanctions on the FRY for an initial period of 100 days beginning 5 October 1994, following a report of the Co-Chairmen of the Steering Committee of the International Conference on the former Yugoslavia (ICFY) transmitted by the Secretary-General to the Security Council. The report stated that the FRY was abiding by its decision to close its border with the Bosnian Serbs, except for the shipment of medicine and clothing for humanitarian purposes. The resolution suspended the ban on all civilian passenger flights to and from Belgrade airport, allowed the re-introduction of a ferry service to Italy, and the participation of the FRY in sports and cultural exchanges.

 Resolution 1021 of 22 November 1995 set out the terms of termination of the arms embargo. In accordance with the resolution, 13 March 1996 was the date of termination of all provisions of the arms embargo, except those related to heavy weapons, mines, military aircraft and helicopters. The Security Council agreed to terminate the remaining provisions of Resolution 1021 concerning the arms embargo on 18 June 1996.

 Resolution 1022 of 22 November 1995 indefinitely suspended the sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

 As a result of the certification by the OSCE of the 14 September 1996 elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Security Council decided, by Security Council Resolution 1074 of 1 October 1996, to terminate sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Bosnian Serbs, in accordance with paragraph 4 of Resolution 1022. The sanctions, however, can be reconsidered if any party fails significantly to meet its obligations under the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

10. HAITI

  Resolution 841 of 16 June 1993 imposed an arms and oil embargo, froze foreign assets, and set up a Security Council sanctions committee.

 The embargo was suspended on 27 August 1993 by Resolution 861 and then re-imposed on 18 October 1993 by Resolution 873 of 13 October.

 Resolution 917 of 6 May 1994 expanded the embargo to include all commodities and products, with the exception of medical supplies and foodstuffs. The expanded embargo went into effect on 21 May 1994.

 Resolution 944 of 29 September 1994 terminated the measures set out in Resolutions 841, 873, and 917 relating to sanctions on 16 October 1994 following the return to Haiti of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. It also terminated the sanctions committee established under Resolution 841.

11. SOUTH AFRICA

  Resolution 418 of 4 November 1977 imposed an arms embargo; Resolution 421 of 9 December 1977 set up a Security Council sanctions committee. By Resolution 919 of 25 May 1994, the Security Council terminated the arms embargo and other restrictions imposed on South Africa by Resolution 418. Resolution 919 also dissolved the sanctions committee.

12. SOUTHERN RHODESIA

  Resolution 232 of 16 December 1966 imposed sanctions on commodities in addition to oil; Resolution 253 of 29 May 1968 set up a sanctions committee. The sanctions were lifted by Resolution 460 of 21 December 1979.