The U.N. Human Rights Council on Monday extended the mandate of an independent fact-finding mission investigating alleged rights violations in Sudan for one year, despite opposition from Sudan and some of its allies.
The 47-member council adopted the resolution by 28 votes to 10, with nine abstentions.
The resolution condemned external interference in Sudan’s war, including the supply of weapons and deployment of foreign fighters and mercenaries.
It called on Sudan’s warring parties and outside actors to respect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and comply with relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions, including the arms embargo on Darfur.
Egypt and Qatar voted against the resolution. Egypt said extending the mission against Sudan’s wishes and drawing an equivalence between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) sent the wrong political message. Qatar also rejected what it described as an attempt to equate a national army with an illegal militia.
Sudan’s representative said Khartoum remained committed to cooperating with U.N. human rights mechanisms but raised concerns over sovereignty and the resolution’s failure to address alleged RSF violations or recognize Sudan’s judicial system.
Britain’s representative said renewing the mission is necessary to ensure accountability for serious abuses documented in its reports.
The resolution said more than 33 million people in Sudan need humanitarian assistance, while 11.3 million people are internally displaced and 4.6 million have fled to neighbouring countries. It also said 19.5 million people faced severe food insecurity.
The council called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access and an inclusive, civilian-led political transition leading to democratic elections.
Sudan has been at war since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the army and the RSF, killing thousands of people and displacing millions.
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