Sudan officially rejected the U.N. Human Rights Council’s decision to prolong the mandate of a mission tasked with investigating human rights violations in the country, accusing the body of favoring the army’s opponents.
The resolution narrowly passed with 23 countries supporting, 12 opposing, and 12 abstaining. Among those voting against the extension was the United Arab Emirates, despite tensions with Sudan, reflecting the wider Arab stance.
Sudan’s foreign ministry issued a statement saying it “strongly opposes” the decision, arguing that it failed to achieve broad consensus.
The ministry criticized the mission, accusing it of being “highly biased” against the Sudanese armed forces and overlooking key issues such as halting the conflict, stopping atrocities, and ensuring humanitarian aid access.
In May, the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) signed the Jeddah Declaration, committing to protect civilians and cease assaults on non-combatants.
However, efforts to transform the declaration into a ceasefire agreement have since faltered.
Sudan’s foreign ministry further claimed that the tight vote within the Human Rights Council reflected internal divisions and bolstered Sudan’s stance.
The statement reaffirmed the government’s dedication to upholding human rights, emphasizing that the army and security services adhere to international humanitarian and human rights standards.
Meanwhile, the Legal and Human Rights Committee of the Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces, a prominent civil society group, supported the extension.
It called on both the army and RSF to cooperate fully with the mission and allow it to carry out its investigation into abuses and accountability.
In a recent report, the fact-finding mission detailed widespread violations committed by both the Sudanese army and the RSF, along with their affiliated groups.
The report recommended deploying an international force to protect civilians, expanding the Darfur arms embargo to the entire nation, and broadening the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to cover all regions of Sudan.
Supporters of the extension praised the U.N. decision, labeling it a significant move toward accountability and justice in Sudan.
The fact-finding mission, established in October 2023, was tasked with investigating human rights abuses amidst the ongoing conflict, particularly those affecting refugees.
Its objectives include gathering evidence, identifying perpetrators, and proposing measures to ensure accountability.