Sudan: Rights bodies urge extension of fact-finding mission’s mandate

May 18, 2024 (NAIROBI) – Rights groups have called for support towards a resolution that would allow the United Nations Human Rights Council extend the mandate of its fact finding mission on Sudan for a year.

The move, a statement noted, would allow the mission to pursue its work with regular updates to and interactive dialogues at the Human Rights Council.

They further argued that extension of the mission’s mandate will enable the Council remain actively seized of the matter, including by assessing the situation in Sudan and appropriate responses.

The Council was also urged to follow up on resolutions S-32/1, 50/1, and S-36/1 by requesting additional reporting by the High Commissioner, with the assistance of his designated Expert, beyond the Council’s 58th session (February-April 2025).

Calls were made for member states of the UN to pay their annual contributions in full and on time to resolve the liquidity crisis and allow the fact-finding for Sudan, other independent investigations, and human rights bodies and mechanisms to fulfil their respective mandates, including by delivering outcomes and reports requested by intergovernmental bodies such as the Human Rights Council.

In October last year, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution establishing an independent fact-finding mission with a mandate to investigate abuses committed in the context of the war in Sudan and identify their perpetrators.

Put forward by the United Kingdom, United States, Germany and Norway, the resolution was vehemently denounced by Sudan’s representatives before it was accepted.

Since fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their affiliated forces in mid-April last year, thousands of people have lost their lives and 8.6 million have reportedly been displaced.

As of 15 April 2024, 18 million people were said to be facing acute food insecurity, including 14 million children while at least 24.8 million people were in need.

Over 70% of hospitals, World Health Organization (WHO) said, are none functional.

(ST)