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HRC63 - IIFFM Sudan and country concerned - 07 September 2026
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13:36
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MP4
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867.6 MB
Opening statements:
- Mohamed Chande Othman, Chair of the Fact-Finding Mission
- Entissar Ahmed Abael-Aal, Attorney General, Sudan (country concerned)
NB: The video includes two audio tracks: first track Interlingua (= floor), second track English.
Interactive dialogue with the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan at the 63rd regular session of the Human Rights Council.
Opening statements:
- Mohamed Chande Othman, Chair of the Fact-Finding Mission
- Entissar Ahmed Abael-Aal, Attorney General, Sudan (country concerned)
NB: The video includes two audio tracks: first track Interlingua (= floor), second track English.
Teleprompter
And I now give the floor to Mr Chande Othman for the introductory remarks.
And the floor is yours, Sir.
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Distinguished delegates Our report, Fuelling Sudan's Conflict Weapons, Fighters and External Support Networks highlights 2 key closely connected findings.
First, how weapons technology, particularly long range drones, has redefined the battlefields.
Second, how these advanced military capabilities are being sustained through external support, including weapons, technology, logistics, training and personnel.
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President, both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces are increasingly using long range drones, resulting in attacks now reaching far beyond traditional front lines and with devastating consequences for civilians.
Civilians have been harmed in their homes, schools, hospitals, markets, displacement sites and places of refuge, and while also attending weddings, funeral and other community gathering.
The impact of these drones cannot be measured by counting civilian civilian casualties alone, but must be understood through the services lost, the infrastructure destroyed and the lasting disruption to daily life.
In July, this Council requested us to urgently investigate the situation in and around El Obeid N Kodafan and to update you during this session.
That investigation is ongoing.
Repeated RSF drones attacks affected electricity, fuel and other key infrastructure that civilians depended on for water, healthcare and transport.
These attacks_that risks remain acute as civilians continue to face repeated aerial threat displacement, and pressure on already strained essential services in a city under parcel siege in.
Kalogi S Kordofan Successive, RSF DRONE strikes on a kindergarten and a hospital harmed not only those caught in the initial attacks but, also those trying to assist the wounded as.
A result 114 were killed including sixty children.
In Dayen Is Darfur, Sudanese Armed Forces strikes rendered teaching hospital non functional, killing at least 70 people and depriving more than 2 million people of access to critical health services.
In Yabul, Blue Nile state, Sudanese Armed Forces drones attack struck the main market and nearby water infrastructure, causing excessive damage to shops and markets.
Women and children continue to bear a heavy burden.
They repeatedly are among the dead and injured.
The attacks often deepen existing inequalities and barriers to essential services.
In all obeyed the vignetting hospital suspended operations after a nearby drone strike by RSF damaged operating theatres and the pharmacy for children.
The destruction of schools, health facilities and other civilian infrastructure effects not only their safety today, but also their future development and well-being.
Based on the evidence gathered, we found reasonable grounds to believe that both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces committed serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, which may amount to war crimes.
The report also examined how this conflict is being fuelled through external interference and material support.
We found reasonable grounds to believe the translational network facilitated RSF military operations linking individuals and entities in the United Arab Emirates, Chad, southeastern Libya and Putin and in Somalia using air, land and sea routes.
The network supplied weapons, drones, related equipment, multi material, logistic assistance and personnel to Nyala and other RSF held areas in Sudan.
The evidence also indicates the former Colombian military personnel were recruited, trained and deployed to support the RSF.
They played an integral role in RSF drones operations, operating and maintaining drone systems and training personnel, including before and during the takeover of Al Fascia where we had documented conduct bearing the hallmarks of genocide, foreign fighters from South Sudan, Chad and Ethiopia.
I've also been identified.
Our investigation into external support to SAF that may contribute to violations in human rights and IHL is at its initial phase, and we will update the Council on this as our work progresses.
States have a responsibility not only to refrain from contributing to violations, but also take reasonable measures to prevent them where there is a clear and foreseeable risk.
Given the established human rights and IHL violations in Sudan, many of which amount to international crimes, continued support raises serious concerns and may extend responsibility beyond those who directly commit the abuses to those who knowingly facilitate or enable them.
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President, our work to establish facts, circumstances, the root causes of the conflict continues.
We are also deeply concerned by the tutoring environment for documentation and accountability.
Survivors, witnesses, journalists, lawyers and human right defenders continue to face intimidation and harassment by all warring parties inside and outside the country, including for cooperating with this mission.
These reprisals must end.
Many people who spoke to us did so at considerable personal risk.
Their courage places the responsibility of the international community not only to document violation but also to act.
Our recommendations include the following.
These census war must end.
The parties must comply fully with international human rights and humanitarian law and take all feasible precautions to protect civilians and civilian objects.
States might must halt military support animating from their territory that risks fuelling violations and effectively investigate the individuals and entities under their jurisdiction that illicitly support the parties to the conflict.
The Darfur arms embargo must be enforced and its extension across Sudan should be supported.
Evidence must be preserved and made available to independent investigative and judicial bodies.
Victims and witnesses must be protected.
Survivors must receive immediate assistance and access through effective remedies and reparation.
Importantly, accountability efforts must extend across the full chain of responsibility, including those who commit, order, finance, supply, or otherwise facilitate international crimes.
My colleagues Mona Reshmaui and Joy is Yellow will be pleased to answer your questions.
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In accordance with our practise, we will begin by giving the floor to the delegation of the concerned country and I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Sudan.
You have a total of 5 minutes.
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