UN Human Rights Council Extends Sudan Fact-Finding Mission Mandate

The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on Monday extending the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan for one year. Voting 28 to 10 with nine abstentions, the council condemned indiscriminate drone strikes, aerial bombardments, and the use of starvation as a weapon of war. The resolution declares there is "no military solution to the crisis" and demands an immediate, unconditional ceasefire and a civilian-led political transition.

The council specifically cited the siege and capture of El-Fasher as bearing "the hallmarks of genocide," involving ethnic killings and systematic deprivation of food and medicine. It warned of similar risks in El Obeid and condemned war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The resolution also urges the International Criminal Court to expand its investigations across all of Sudan and demands unimpeded humanitarian access, including the continued opening of the Adré border crossing.

While the Government of Sudan urged member states to reject the measure, the resolution received support from the European group and several Asian and South American nations. It was opposed by China, Cuba, Vietnam, and several Arab and Muslim-majority countries. British Ambassador Eleanor Sanders noted a significant shift in African support for the resolution, while the representative of The Gambia, Cherno Marenah, stated the decision was guided by considerations for the millions of victims of the war.