Arabic version: مجلس الأمم المتحدة يجدد ولاية بعثة تقصي الحقائق بشأن السودان

According to Allafrica, a record number of countries at the United Nations Human Rights Council voted this week to renew the mandate of the UN Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan. The vote drew support from countries across regions, with Gambia, Malawi and Mauritius joining South Africa in backing the resolution for the first time.

The mission is mandated to investigate human rights violations and abuses committed by Sudan’s warring parties and to advance accountability. Its work includes collecting and preserving evidence, identifying those responsible, and supporting the possible use of evidence in future prosecutions.

Over the past year, the mission has issued several reports, including a special inquiry into the Rapid Support Forces’ assault on El Fasher. The inquiry concluded that the assault bore the hallmarks of genocide. The mission also released a recent report on the role of external actors in fueling the conflict and has worked with the joint Fact-Finding Mission of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to make their efforts complementary.

The Human Rights Council resolution highlighted the mission’s identification of a “transnational network” supporting the RSF through weapons, logistics, training and foreign personnel. It called for greater scrutiny and accountability for external support sustaining operations involving serious violations and international crimes across the full chain of responsibility. While the resolution recognized the importance of preserving evidence, states did not strengthen the mission’s capacity to do so, despite a recommendation from civil society. The source said African states supporting the initiative and others should also seek consideration of the ACHPR mission’s report by the African Union Peace and Security Council.