UNITED NATIONS, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Friday extended its arms embargo, asset freeze and travel ban on the Democratic Republic of Congo until July 1, 2019 and the mandate of the Expert Group assisting the Sanctions Committee through Aug. 1, 2019.
Unanimously adopting resolution 2424 (2018), the Council reaffirmed that the sanctions would apply to individuals and entities designated by the Committee established pursuant to Resolution 1533 (2004) that met criteria outlined in previous resolutions.
By other terms, the Council expressed its intention to review the Expert Group's mandate and take action on any further extension no later than July 1, 2019.
It requested the Expert Group to provide a mid-term report no later than Dec. 30, 2018, and a final report no later than June 15, 2019, as well as to submit monthly updates to the Committee, except in the months when the mid-term and final reports were due.
In that context, the Council reiterated the need for the government to swiftly and fully investigate the killing of the two members of the Group of Experts and the four Congolese nationals accompanying them, and to bring those responsible to justice.
The experts, Michael Sharp, 34, an American, and Zaida Catalan, 36, a Swede, were investigating crimes associated with a rebellion in central Kasai Province of the DRC when they were abducted along with four Congolese colleagues in March 2017.
The bodies of Sharp and Catalan were found two weeks later, about 75 miles south of Kananga.
