Sudan: UN Human Rights Council Urged to Widen Sudan Arms Embargo and Extend Fact-Finding Mission

What the report says

The UN fact-finding mission on Sudan has called on the Human Rights Council to broaden the Darfur arms embargo to cover the entire country and to renew its mandate so it can keep collecting and preserving evidence. In remarks delivered in Geneva at the Council’s 63rd session, mission chair Mohamed Chande Othman said outside support is helping sustain the war and that violations documented in Sudan may amount to international crimes. He said accountability could reach not only those who commit abuses, but also those who finance, supply, or otherwise enable them.

The mission said both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces may have committed war crimes, and described drone warfare as a major driver of civilian harm and damage to essential services. It also said its investigations continue into attacks in several locations, including El Obeid, Kadugli, Ed Daein, and Yabus. The mission warned that witnesses, journalists, lawyers, and human rights defenders face intimidation and retaliation for cooperating with investigators.

Sudan’s attorney general, Intisar Abdel Aal, rejected any move to treat the two sides as equivalent and argued that external support to the Rapid Support Forces is prolonging the conflict. She said Sudan’s national investigations are advancing and pointed to criminal cases, arrests, and referrals to court. Several states and blocs, including the European Union and Nordic and Baltic countries, backed renewal of the mission’s mandate, while African representatives stressed Sudan’s sovereignty and called for African-led approaches.