UN rights council condemns attacks on civilians in Sudan, calls for truce

What the report says

The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva has condemned attacks on civilians in Sudan and called for an immediate truce, as the war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues to worsen. In a resolution adopted on Monday, the 47-member body also extended the mandate of its independent fact-finding mission on Sudan, with the vote split 28 in favor, 10 against and nine abstentions, according to Al Jazeera.

The council said both sides have carried out serious violations of international humanitarian law, including indiscriminate strikes and drone attacks that have killed civilians and damaged schools, hospitals and other essential infrastructure. The resolution also urged an end to outside support that it said is helping sustain the conflict, including illicit financing, arms flows and the use of foreign fighters. Sudan’s government asked members to reject the measure.

Al Jazeera reported that the war, which began in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 13 million people, based on estimates cited by rights groups. The fact-finding mission has previously documented grave abuses in Darfur, including allegations of mass killings, sexual violence and deprivation of food and medicine during the siege of el-Fasher.

Separately, the World Food Programme said an air attack hit a clearly marked aid convoy in South Kordofan, killing one driver and damaging food supplies. The agency called for a transparent investigation, underscoring the risks facing humanitarian operations as fighting and drone warfare intensify.