Strong support for ongoing Sudan investigations in the UN Legal Council

This week, United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) member states from all regions voted overwhelmingly to renew the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) for Sudan, established in 2023. The move was widely supported by Sudanese activists.

The fact-finding mission is mandated to investigate crimes committed by the warring parties in Sudan and promote accountability, including by collecting and preserving evidence to identify those responsible and for future prosecutions.

The renewal of the fact-finding mission’s mandate comes as fighting increases in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, and El Fasher in North Darfur once again poses a massive threat to civilians, with both parties using heavy explosive weapons in densely populated areas, causing significant… Damage is leading civilians to flee in search of safety amid a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation.

The increasing support for the resolution this year signals increasing recognition of the need to combat impunity in the Sudan conflict, which continues to fuel atrocities, and that justice is central to resolving the crisis.

It was significant that several African countries shifted to a more supportive stance towards the resolution than in 2023. By voting in favor of the resolution this time, South Africa, along with Ghana, sent a strong message that double standards exist at a time of selective application of international law can and should be overcome by raising the bar rather than lowering it. Countries from other regions, including Malaysia and the Maldives, also shifted to a more supportive stance.

Building on this growing consensus, States should work towards implementing the fact-finding mission’s recommendations, particularly on the protection and accountability of civilians.

In its first report, the fact-finding mission called for the deployment of an independent force to protect civilians, echoing repeated calls from many Sudanese activists, local responders and international experts. They also recommended extending the existing arms embargo on Darfur and the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to the entire country, called for Sudan’s cooperation with the ICC, and urged more comprehensive approaches to justice, including consideration of a dedicated International Justice Mechanism to complement it the work of the ICC.

States should urgently respond to these important recommendations as part of upcoming discussions in the UN Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, including an informal consultation between both bodies. This week’s vote is likely to provide a glimmer of hope to Sudanese demands for accountability amid great darkness. States should not abandon them.