Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan

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Nicaragua map Responding to the human rights and humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing armed conflict in the Sudan, the Human Rights Council on 11 October 2023, through resolution A/HRC/RES/54/2 decided to establish an independent international fact-finding mission for the Sudan to investigate and establish the facts, circumstances and root causes of all alleged human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including those committed against refugees, and related crimes in the context of the ongoing armed conflict that began on 15 April 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, as well as other warring parties.

In October 2024, the Human Rights Council extended the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission for a period of one year. The Human Rights Council requested the Commission to:

Provide an oral update on its work followed by an interactive dialogue at the 59^th session (June-July 2025)
Submit a comprehensive report on its findings, followed by an interactive dialogue at its 60^th session (September-October 2024).
Submit the above report to the General Assembly at its 80^th session (October 2025).

Mandate

The Fact-Finding Mission’s Mandate, according to resolution A/HRC/RES/54/2:

To investigate and establish the facts, circumstances and root causes of all alleged human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including those committed against refugees, and related crimes in the context of the ongoing armed conflict that began on 15 April 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, as well as other warring parties;
To collect, consolidate and analyse evidence of such violations and abuses, including those affecting women and children, and to systematically record and preserve all information, documentation and evidence, including interviews, witness testimony and forensic material, consistent with international best practices, in view of any future legal proceedings;
To document and verify relevant information and evidence, including through field engagement, and to cooperate with judicial and other entities, as appropriate;
To identify, where possible, those individuals and entities responsible for violations or abuses of human rights or violations of international humanitarian law, or other related crimes, in the Sudan, with a view to ensuring that those responsible are held accountable;
To make recommendations, in particular on accountability measures, all with a view to ending impunity and addressing its root causes, and ensuring accountability, including, as appropriate, individual criminal responsibility, and access to justice for victims;
To give the Human Rights Council an oral update on its work at its fifty-sixth session, followed by an interactive dialogue, and a comprehensive report thereon at its fifty-seventh session, to be followed by an enhanced interactive dialogue that should include the participation of, inter alia, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, representatives of the African Union and the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide;
To submit the above report to the General Assembly at its seventy-ninth session;
To cooperate and share best practice with other international, regional and domestic accountability initiatives, as and when these are established, as appropriate;
To cooperate and share best practice with other international, regional and domestic accountability initiatives, as and when these are established, as appropriate;

Call for Submissions

The Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan invites individuals, groups and organizations to submit information and documentation relevant to its mandate. The deadline for submission is 31 July 2024.

Members

Mohamed Chande Othman, chair (Tanzania)
Joy Ngozi Ezeilo (Nigeria)
Mona Rishmawi (Jordan/Switzerland)

Press Releases

Sudan: UN Fact-Finding Mission documents large-scale sexual violence and other human rights violations in newly issued report
29 October 2024
العربية | English

Sudan: UN Fact-Finding Mission outlines extensive human rights violations, international crimes, urges protection of civilians
6 September 2024
العربية | English | Français

Sudan Fact-Finding Mission documents disturbing patterns of rights violations on mission in Chad
23 July 2024
العربية | English

As Sudan conflict enters its second year, UN Fact-Finding Mission says warring parties must halt fighting, protect civilians, allow free flow of aid
11 April 2024
العربية | English

UN Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan begins work, calls on warring parties to end conflict and respect human rights
18 January 2024
العربية | English

President of Human Rights Council appoints members of new investigative mechanism on Sudan
18 December 2023
العربية | English

Statements

Statement by Mohamed Chande Othman, Chair of the Fact-Finding Mission, at the 57th session of the Human Rights Council
10 September 2024
العربية | English

Statement by Mohamed Chande Othman, Chair of the Fact-Finding Mission, at the 56th session of the Human Rights Council
18 June 2024
العربية | English

Reports

Report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan (A/HRC/57/CRP.6)
23 October 2024 (Issued 29 October 2024)
English

Infographic: Relevant facts and findings on the conflict

Report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan (A/HRC/57/23)
5 September 2024 (Issued on 6 September 2024)
English | Arabic

Documentation

Human Rights Council resolution A/HRC/RES/54/2: Responding to the human rights and humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing armed conflict in the Sudan.