The Darfur Journalists and Media Association has welcomed the resolution of the United Nations Human Rights Council to set up an independent fact-finding mission to probe alleged rights abuses in Sudan's brutal fighting.

On Wednesday, the UN's top human rights body voted to establish a fact-finding mission to probe human rights violations in Sudan’s months long war. The resolution was adopted with 19 out of the council’s 47 members voting in favor of establishing the mission. Sixteen members opposed it, while 12 countries were absent.

In a statement extended to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, the Association said the decision enhances the chances of avoiding impunity and implementing the principle of accountability, announcing its readiness to assist the mission in carrying out its role.

Ezzedine Ali Dahab, the deputy head of the Darfur Media Association, welcomed the formation of the fact-finding mission to investigate alleged human rights abuses in Sudan. He, however, expressed disappointment with the results of the vote.

Dahab described as the decision as the “beginning of the process of strengthening the law and accountability for crimes and abuses committed against innocent civilians in Darfur, Khartoum and Kordofan.

The fighting in Sudan broke out on April 15.

The army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has been battling the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, after the two fell out in a power struggle.

More than 9,000 people have been killed in the conflict so far, according to a conservative estimate by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project.

Fighting has displaced almost 4.3 million people within Sudan, while 1.2 million more have fled abroad, UN figures show.