Geneva, Oct. 5 (SANA) The UN Human Rights Council adopted Monday a resolution condemning the ongoing war in Sudan and extending the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan for one year, with 28 countries voting in favor, 10 opposed, and 9 abstaining.
The resolution strongly condemned all forms of external interference fueling the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, including weapons supplies, deployment of foreign fighters, and mercenaries, UN News reported.
The 47-member council urged all Sudanese parties and external actors to respect Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity, comply with relevant UN Security Council resolutions—including the Darfur arms embargo—and halt military and material support to all warring parties.
Egypt and Qatar voted against the draft resolution, with Egypt’s delegate warning that equating the Sudanese national army with the RSF militia sends a wrong political signal and opposing the extension of the fact-finding mission against Sudan’s will. Qatar’s representative similarly rejected drawing an equivalence between a national army and an illegal militia while reaffirming support for Sudan’s territorial integrity.
Sudan’s delegate reaffirmed his country’s full cooperation with human rights mechanisms, while expressing reservations over sovereign concerns and the resolution’s failure to address violations by the RSF militia or acknowledge the national judicial system. The UK delegate countered that renewing the mission’s mandate is essential to ensure accountability for grave atrocities detailed in its reports.
The resolution highlighted that over 33 million people in Sudan require humanitarian aid, with 11.3 million internally displaced and 4.6 million refugees in neighboring countries. It warned that 19.5 million people face severe acute food insecurity, with famine conditions threatening 14 areas in Darfur and South Kordofan.
Emphasizing that no military solution exists, the council called for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, full implementation of the Jeddah Declaration on protecting civilians, unhindered humanitarian access, and an inclusive, civilian-led political transition leading to a democratically elected government.
Sudan has been gripped by war between the national army and the RSF militia since April 2023, resulting in thousands of deaths, massive displacement, and a deteriorating humanitarian crisis.
Kh.A / Mzn
