U.N. Human Rights Council Must Establish An International Investigation In Sudan

On May 11, 2023, the U.N. Human Rights Council held a special session on the human rights impact of the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The ongoing conflict refers to the recent events, since mid-April 2023, when fierce fighting broke out in Khartoum between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel Fatah Al Burhan, and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti) and quickly spread to other parts of the country, including Darfur. The session was convened per an official request submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Kingdom of Norway, the United States of America, and the Federal Republic of Germany, which has been supported by at least 52 States. During the session, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, strongly condemned the wanton violence taking place in the country.

As High Commissioner Türk raised, the Sudanese military had launched attacks in densely occupied civilian areas, including airstrikes. He indicated that since April 15, 2023, at least 487 civilians had been killed, notably in Khartoum, El Geneina, Nyala and El Obeid. The real figure is said to be much higher. In addition, more than 154,000 people had fled the country, and an estimated 700,000 more had been displaced inside the borders of Sudan.

Those who remained continue to be at high risk and this is as “In Khartoum, clashes between the two armed forces, shelling and airstrikes had taken place in heavily populated residential areas, and millions of people were now struggling to access food, fuel and currency.” He further added that “In parts of Darfur, as well as the Blue Nile and Kordofan regions, the violence between military groups had triggered inter-ethnic clashes. In West Darfur, at least 100 people had been killed, and thousands displaced, by inter-communal violence between so-called ‘Arab’ and Masalit groups, allied respectively with the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces.” The escalation of violence in Darfur comes 20 years after the region was battered by genocide which saw over 2.5 million people displaced and 300,000 to 400,000 killed (directly or indirectly as a result of malnutrition and disease and other factors).

High Commissioner further reported that the recent crisis has resulted in severe damage to Sudan’s health system with at least 17 attacks against health facilities. He added that “Extensive and increasing looting of United Nations and international non-governmental organizations offices, businesses, and private property had also obstructed the humanitarian operations that kept millions of people alive and in health.” He called upon both parties urgently to commit to an inclusive political process and to a negotiated peace.

The World Food Program estimated that 2.5 million more people could become acutely food insecure within 3 to 6 months, bringing the total to 19 million people – more than half the population.

Civil society representatives reported the dire situation faced by women and girls. According to the International Service for Human Rights, since the beginning of the conflict, dozens of women were killed and hundreds were injured including in Khartoum, Nayala, Alobied and Alfashir, and in the inter-communal fighting in Darfur. According to their report, “In the hostilities in Alfashir in north Darfur, at least 23 women were killed in two days on April 15 and 16. In Nayala of South Darfur, at least 15 women were killed, among them were four girls. In the violence that erupted in Elgeneina in west Darfur at the end of April, more than 82 women were killed, and 16 of them were burned to death as their displacement shelters were burnt. All hospitals are out of service in the city.” Furthermore, they reported several cases of sexual violence by “men in uniform.”

During the special session, civil society representatives called upon the Human Rights Council to effectively respond to the crisis, including by establishing an international investigation mechanism to document human rights violations. Such mechanisms have been established to document human rights violations across many conflicts and other situations of concern. As the crisis continues, such a mechanism is crucial to secure justice and accountability in the future – an issue neglected in Sudan over the last two decades.