30 May 2026
The Committee for Justice (CFJ), represented by its Executive Director, Ahmed Mefreh, participated in a webinar organized by the Sudan Human Rights Defenders Coalition under the title “Beyond the Banjul Declaration: Opportunities and Challenges,” held on 30 May 2026 with the participation of Sudanese human rights defenders and representatives of civil society organizations.
The webinar discussed the outcomes of the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), as well as the Banjul Joint Declaration on Sudan and the opportunities and challenges related to transforming its commitments into concrete actions aimed at protecting civilians and advancing accountability.
During his intervention, Ahmed Mefreh emphasized that the Banjul Declaration represents a historic step toward strengthening cooperation and coordination between African and United Nations mechanisms working on Sudan. He noted that the Declaration is one of the most significant practical outcomes of the Addis Ababa Roadmap, which seeks to enhance complementarity and cooperation between African and UN human rights mechanisms.
Mefreh, who contributed to the drafting of the initial version of the Declaration, explained that its importance lies not only in being the first joint declaration adopted by the African and UN Fact-Finding Missions on Sudan, but also in providing a common framework and shared vision regarding civilian protection, humanitarian access, accountability, and justice.
He further stressed the importance of treating the Banjul Declaration as a foundational framework and key reference point for future regional and international engagement on Sudan, calling for a transition from adoption to implementation.
Mefreh highlighted the crucial role that Sudanese civil society can play in the implementation phase through documenting violations, preserving evidence, strengthening early warning efforts, supporting civilian protection, and facilitating communication between victims and regional and international accountability mechanisms.
He also called for stronger coordination and networking between Sudanese, regional, and international organizations working on human rights and justice issues, in order to transform the Banjul Declaration from a political document into a practical framework capable of producing tangible results for civilians affected by the conflict.
Responding to comments from participants, Mefreh stressed that civil society cannot remain neutral between victims and perpetrators, and that defending victims’ rights requires condemning all violations committed against civilians, regardless of the identity of the perpetrators, while maintaining full adherence to international human rights and humanitarian law standards.
He further emphasized the need to build broader alliances among Sudanese, African, and international organizations to support the implementation of the Banjul Declaration, strengthen accountability efforts, protect civilians, and ensure sustained coordination among stakeholders working on Sudan.
Mefreh concluded by underscoring that the Banjul Declaration should not remain merely a document to be celebrated, but rather serve as a practical roadmap for joint action among civil society organizations, African and UN mechanisms, and international partners, with the ultimate goal of protecting civilians, combating impunity, and advancing peace and justice in Sudan.
