The UN Human Rights Council has voted to prolong its investigation into alleged human rights abuses in Sudan, amidst a brutal conflict between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces. Supported by 23 member states, the continuation of the probe was opposed by Sudan and several allies. The resolution has drawn criticism from Sudan’s representative, who insists it is unjust. The conflict has escalated significantly since April 2023, prompting international concern for human rights in the region.
On Wednesday, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council made a decisive move to extend its investigation into reported human rights violations amid the ongoing conflict in Sudan, despite objections from the Sudanese government. In a vote, 23 of the council’s 47 member states supported prolonging the independent international fact-finding mission for an additional year, while 12 members voted against the extension and another 12 abstained. The investigation, initiated in October of the previous year, aims to examine alleged abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law occurring in the war-torn nation. The resolution to renew the mission was proposed primarily by Britain and several allied nations. Sudan’s ambassador to the UN, Hassan Hamid Hassan, criticized the resolution prior to the vote, characterizing it as “unjust” and “unfair,” arguing that it improperly equates national military actions with those of insurgent militia groups. Ambassador Hassan firmly stated, “This is an erroneous approach, and Sudan totally rejects the content of this resolution.” Countries supporting the resolution included Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, South Africa, and the United States. In stark contrast, nations voting against the measure were China, Cuba, Eritrea, Indonesia, Morocco, Qatar, and Sudan. Algeria, Bangladesh, India, and Malaysia opted to abstain from the vote. The fact-finding mission, consisting of a three-member panel chaired by Mohamed Chande Othman, a former Chief Justice of Tanzania, also includes Joy Ezeilo, an emeritus Dean of Law at the University of Nigeria, and Mona Rishmawi from Jordan and Switzerland, a former UN independent expert on human rights in Somalia. The ongoing conflict, which has erupted since April 2023, pits the Sudanese army, led by de facto ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
The conflict in Sudan, which intensified in April 2023, has led to significant human rights concerns, prompting the UN Human Rights Council to establish an independent investigation to address the escalating abuses. The current war involves the Sudanese army and the RSF, with allegations of serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law emerging from both sides. The UN’s fact-finding mission was initiated to scrutinize these allegations, reflecting the international community’s commitment to uphold human rights amidst such crises. The extension of the investigative mandate signals ongoing global oversight and concern regarding the situation in Sudan, as well as the complexities of accountability in conflict situations.
The UN Human Rights Council has reaffirmed its commitment to investigating human rights violations in Sudan by extending the mandate of its fact-finding mission for another year. This move underscores the international community’s vigilance regarding the ongoing conflict and its consequences on the civilian population. While the Sudanese government objected vehemently to the resolution, the majority of council members deemed it necessary to continue probing the situation in order to instill accountability and promote justice.
Original Source: jordantimes.com
