UN Security Council renews Yemen sanctions and seeks tighter maritime monitoring

The UN Security Council adopted the resolution by consensus on 12 November, renewing travel bans and asset freezes on designated individuals and entities for 12 months, according to UN meeting coverage. It also extended the mandate of the panel of experts that assists the Yemen sanctions committee for 13 months.

The measures were first established in 2014. Under the previous renewal, the travel bans and asset freezes were due to expire on 14 November 2026, while the panel’s mandate ran until 15 December.

The council asked the UN secretary-general to expand the panel to six members, including expertise to monitor and report on maritime security. It also called on member states to do more to combat the smuggling of weapons and components by land and sea, including through sharing information.

The council said it intended to decide by 11 January 2027 what steps to take to prevent specified dual-use components and precursor chemicals from reaching designated individuals or entities, according to the UN account. Dual-use items can have civilian as well as military applications.

Britain’s UN ambassador, Sarah MacIntosh, said council members still needed to agree on a list of dual-use items to be subject to measures. She said the Houthis relied on such components and chemicals for local weapons manufacturing. The UK led negotiations on the resolution.

The council also condemned the Houthis’ military escalation in Yemen and demanded that the group stop its escalation and attacks immediately and unconditionally. Despite the consensus, Latvia’s representative said she would have preferred faster action on dual-use items. Russia’s representative warned that placing all the blame on the Houthis risked further radicalising the situation.