Meeting in Geneva today, the UN Human Rights Council adop­ted a new resolution on Sudan. By extending the mandate of the Indepen­dent International Fact-Fin­ding Mis­sion (FFM) for another year, it enables the FFM to continue investigating crimes committed in rela­tion to Sudan’s conflict and iden­tifying those responsible. 

“As the world looks away from the largest displacement and humanitarian crisis, the FFM’s role is more important than ever,” said Has­san Shire, Exe­cu­tive Di­rec­tor, Defend­Defen­ders. “By docu­menting and exposing crimes committed by all parties, the FFM helps ensure that acc­oun­tability remains central to any long-term solution to Sudan’s conflict.” 

Resolution A/HRC/60/L.18, presented by the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway, is both strong and timely. It condemns widespread human rights and international huma­ni­tarian law vio­lations, committed as the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Sup­port Forces (RSF) and their res­pec­tive allies continues unabated. 

Among other abuses, the resolution condemns killings, torture, rape and other forms of sexual and gender-ba­sed violence, including sexual slavery, enfor­ced disappearances, re­pri­sal attacks on civi­lians, forced displacement, shelling across civilian neigh­bour­hoods, the use of starvation as a me­thod of warfare, and the destruction of towns and infra­struc­ture, inc­luding hospitals and schools. It warns of “clear parallels” between these developments, including ethnically motivated attacks, and previous violations and abuses in Darfur, and refers to “famine con­ditions” in camps for internally dis­­placed persons and the Western Nuba Mountains. 

The resolution also condemns the continued escalation of violence in Kordofan and in and around El Fasher, North Darfur, particularly the large-scale offensive launched by the RSF on Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps. It reiterates calls for an immediate nationwide ceasefire and full, safe and un­hin­dered humanitarian access into and through­out Sudan. Stressing that impunity for violations encourages their recur­ren­ce and is a fundamental obstacle to sustainable peace, it underlines the need for “an inclusive and com­prehensive Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led political transition towards a de­mo­­crati­cal­ly elec­ted national government,” following a civilian-led transition period. 

L.18 aligns with civil society expectations, outlined in an August 2025 joint letter signed by over 100 organisations. In addition to extending the FFM’s mandate, it strengthens public re­por­ting and de­ba­tes: in 2026, one of the Council’s plenary debates will include the participation of civil so­ciety. It falls short, however, of extending the FFM’s mandate for two years and making recommendations to the UN Security Council – two avenues highlighted by civil society as means of enhancing the internatio­nal response to Sudan’s crisis and advancing accountability. 

“There was no other option for the Human Rights Council but to extend the FFM’s mandate,” said Estella Kan­siime, Advocacy, Researcher and Communications Manager, DefendDefenders. “Yet the Council missed an opportunity: even in a context of financial crisis, it could have done more to match the gravity of Sudan’s crisis with the international and media attention it deserves.” 

In its September 2025 report, the FFM highlighted that Sudan’s rival forces are deliberately tar­geting civilians and committing atrocities on a large scale. It concluded that both the SAF and the RSF have committed violations of international law amounting to war crimes, and that there are rea­sonable grounds to believe that the RSF also committed crimes against humanity. 

Reflecting global concerns over the crisis, resolution L.18 was adopted by a broad margin (24 in fa­vour, 11 against, with 12 abstentions) with support from states across all regional groups. 

The UN’s top human rights body, the Human Rights Council, first established the FFM for Sudan in Oc­to­ber 2023. In October 2024, it extended its mandate for one year. During its 60th regular session (8 Sep­tember-8 October 2025), it is expected to adopt nearly 40 resolutions, covering thematic is­sues such as the death penalty and racism, as well as country situations (including, in addi­tion to Sudan: Afghanistan, Bu­run­di, the DRC, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and Russia). 

As per resolution L.18, adopted today, the Council will hold public debates on Sudan in February, June, and September 2026 (at its 61st, 62nd, and 63rd sessions, respectively) and consider the FFM’s next written report at its 63rd session. L.18 also requests the FFM to present its findings to the UN General Assembly at its 81st session (October 2026) and the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue reporting on Su­dan’s human rights si­tuation. 

 

For more information, please contact: 
Estella Kansiime 
Advocacy, Research and Communications Manager
EstellaK@defenddefenders.org or +256 782 360 460 (English)
Nicolas Agostini 
Representative to the United Nations, Senior Advocate and Researcher
NicolasA@defenddefenders.org or +41 79 813 49 91 (English & French)