The United Nations Human Rights Council issued a resolution Wednesday establishing an independent international fact-finding mission in Sudan.
The resolution comes in response to nearly six months of armed conflict in Sudan between two military factions, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In September, over 50 human rights organizations across the globe wrote a joint statement to the United Nations, urging them to take decisive action in the conflict.
The United Nations Human Rights Council voted to take the first step in intervention, by establishing an investigative mission into Sudan. In their resolution, the council described the requested actions as follows:
[T]he Council…decides to urgently establish an independent international fact-finding mission for Sudan, with a mandate to investigate and establish the facts, circumstances and root causes of all alleged human rights and international humanitarian law violations in the context of the conflict that began on 15 April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, as well as other warring parties, to make recommendations, in particular on accountability measures and access to justice for victims….
The resolution passed in a close vote, with 19 in favor, 16 opposed, and 12 abstaining.