The Committee for Justice (CFJ) organized a closed meeting in Geneva bringing together Commissioners of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and members of the African Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan, with the participation of Sudanese and international human rights organizations, as well as members of the Sudan Task Force.
The meeting was attended by H.E. Idrissa Sow, Chairperson of the ACHPR; Commissioner Hatem Essaiem, Vice-Chairperson of the ACHPR and Head of the ACHPR Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan; Commissioner Salma Sassi, Member of ACHPR Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan; Mr. Mohamed Sakr, from the ACHPR and the African FFM on Sudan Secretariat.
During the meeting, the Fact-Finding Mission members briefed participating organizations on its recent visit to Chad, including preliminary observations and the anticipated release of its report. The Mission emphasized the importance of civil society engagement in disseminating its findings and ensuring their use in accountability efforts.
Participants discussed the situation of Sudanese refugees and migrants both inside and outside Sudan, as well as challenges facing the education sector in western Sudan, particularly in light of upcoming examinations. It was further emphasized that violations committed in El Fasher amount to acts that may constitute genocide, with a warning regarding the risk of recurrence in the Kordofan region and a call for urgent intervention to prevent further atrocities.
The participants informed the Fact-Finding Mission of recent human rights developments in Sudan, presenting documented and verified patterns of violations observed across various regions.
The discussion also addressed key challenges facing the African Fact-Finding Mission, including restricted access to neighboring countries—where only Chad permitted a visit—as well as financial constraints impacting its work.
ACHPR Commissioners indicated that they have not received any complaints concerning the situation in Sudan since the outbreak of the conflict in April 2023, stressing the importance of submitting communications to enable urgent action by the Commission.
This meeting forms part of CFJ’s broader efforts to strengthen coordination between civil society and regional mechanisms in support of accountability and response to serious violations in Sudan.
