The United Nations’ top human rights body has mandated an urgent and independent fact-finding mission in response to severe human rights violations in El Fasher, Sudan. This decision follows reports of widespread atrocities allegedly committed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), including ethnically motivated killings, torture, and sexual violence used as a weapon of war.
During a special session held on March 10, 2024, the Human Rights Council (HRC) convened to address the escalating crisis in and around El Fasher, which has become a focal point of violence in the region. The city, located in Western Sudan, was previously a stronghold of Sudanese forces until the RSF overran government troops last month. Since then, alarming accounts of mass killings and brutal assaults have surfaced, particularly in hospitals and the city’s outskirts.
The Council adopted Draft Resolution A/HRC/S-38/L.1 without a vote, signaling a unified stance on the urgent need for action. In his opening remarks, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasized the preventable nature of the atrocities occurring in El Fasher. He stated, “None of us should be surprised by reports that since the RSF took control of El Fasher, there have been mass killings of civilians; ethnically targeted executions; sexual violence including gang rape; abductions for ransom, and other appalling atrocities.”
Following Türk’s address, Adama Dieng, the African Union’s special envoy on the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities, urged the international community to halt the flow of weapons and fighters into Sudan. He highlighted the impact of these supplies on the systematic targeting of vulnerable groups and called for immediate action to alleviate the dire situation.
The newly established fact-finding mission is tasked with investigating alleged violations by all parties involved in the conflict. Its objectives include identifying responsible individuals and collecting evidence for potential legal proceedings. The mission will also analyze patterns of ethnically motivated attacks and assess the risks of further mass atrocities. Several delegations underscored the necessity of the mission’s rapid deployment, given the scale of violence in El Fasher.
As the humanitarian situation continues to worsen, the HRC’s resolution represents one of the most significant international responses to date. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of the fact-finding mission in driving meaningful action will largely depend on the cooperation it receives, as well as the political will from involved parties.
The ongoing violence in El Fasher has drawn international condemnation, with many calling for immediate action to protect civilians. As the situation evolves, the global community closely watches to see how the UN’s latest efforts will unfold in addressing the atrocities occurring in Sudan.
