Today in History: Nine nations adopt Security Council ban on arms sales to SA
The United Nations Security Council resolution was optional, and countries were not forced to sign it.
United Nations Security Council’s Resolution 181 was adopted on this day in 1963, calling upon member states to refrain from selling arms to the then Republic of South Africa due to its Apartheid policies.
The resolution, calling upon all states to cease the sale and shipment of arms, ammunition and military vehicles to South Africa, was not a must-do for member states, and the state could vote if they wished to obey the arms embargo. The resolution received nine votes for it, none against it, and two abstentions (France and United Kingdom). The arms embargo was eventually made mandatory on 4 November, 1977.
The last portion of Resolution 181 read:
“Noting with concern the recent arms build-up by the Government of South Africa, some of which arms are being used in furtherance of that Government’s racial policies,
Regretting that some States are indirectly providing encouragement in various ways to the Government of South Africa to perpetuate, by force, its policy of apartheid,
Regretting the failure of the Government of South Africa to accept the invitation of the Security Council to delegate a representative to appear before it,
Being convinced that the situation in South Africa is seriously disturbing international peace and security,
1. Strongly deprecates the policies of South Africa in its perpetuation of racial discrimination as being inconsistent with the principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations and contrary to its obligations as a Member of the United Nations;
2. Calls upon the Government of South Africa to abandon the policies of apartheid and discrimination, as called for in Security Council resolution 134(1960), and to liberate all persons imprisoned, interned or subjected to other restriction for having opposed the policy of apartheid;
3. Solemnly calls upon all States to cease forthwith the sale and shipment of arms, ammunition of all types and military vehicles to South Africa;
4. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the situation in South Africa under observation and to report to the Security Council by 30 October 1963;”
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