Geneva / Banjul – The Committee for Justice (CFJ) welcomes the adoption of the “Banjul Joint Declaration on Sudan” by the Joint Fact-Finding Mission of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) on the Human Rights Situation in Sudan and the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan.
Adopted during the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights held in Banjul, Republic of The Gambia, the Declaration represents a significant milestone in strengthening coordination and complementarity between African and United Nations human rights and accountability mechanisms in response to the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
CFJ considers the Declaration an important development toward advancing civilian protection, accountability, humanitarian access, and coordinated international and regional action concerning the grave violations and abuses committed in Sudan since the outbreak of the conflict in April 2023.
The Declaration highlights the alarming deterioration of the human rights and humanitarian situation across Sudan, including in Darfur, El Fasher, and the Kordofan regions, and calls for urgent measures to protect civilians, ensure humanitarian access, prevent atrocity crimes, and advance justice and accountability.
CFJ particularly welcomes the Declaration’s emphasis on:
- The protection of civilians as an overriding priority;
- Accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other atrocity crimes;
- Cooperation with international and regional accountability mechanisms;
- Support for humanitarian operations and civilian-led democratic governance;
- The importance of preserving evidence and supporting future justice processes.
CFJ also welcomes the Declaration’s recognition of the role played by Sudanese civil society organizations, journalists, humanitarian actors, women, youth, and human rights defenders in documenting violations and supporting affected communities despite serious risks and challenges.
Commenting on the adoption of the Declaration, Ahmed Mefreh, Executive Director of the Committee for Justice, stated:
“The adoption of the Banjul Joint Declaration represents an important and historic step toward bridging regional and international accountability efforts on Sudan. It reflects a growing recognition that meaningful civilian protection and sustainable peace cannot be achieved without justice, accountability, and stronger coordination between African and United Nations mechanisms. We hope this Declaration will serve as a practical framework for future cooperation and concrete action to protect civilians and support victims and survivors across Sudan.”
CFJ further stresses the importance of ensuring effective implementation of the recommendations and commitments reflected in the Declaration, including measures aimed at protecting civilians, supporting humanitarian access, combating impunity, and supporting an inclusive civilian-led path toward peace and democratic governance in Sudan.
The Committee for Justice reiterates its continued support for efforts aimed at strengthening cooperation between regional and international mechanisms in the framework of the Addis Ababa Roadmap and advancing accountability and protection pathways for victims of serious human rights violations in Sudan.