Geneva, 5 August 2026
The Committee for Justice welcomes the report adopted by the Pan-African Parliament on the security crisis in Sudan and its humanitarian consequences, following the joint meeting of the Permanent Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict Resolution and the Permanent Committee on Justice and Human Rights of the Pan-African Parliament, held in Midrand, South Africa.
CFJ considers the adoption of this report and its recommendations an important step towards strengthening African parliamentary engagement on the Sudanese crisis. It also marks a move from general political concern to a clearer institutional track within the Pan-African Parliament, in line with its role in supporting African Union efforts to protect civilians, end the conflict, strengthen accountability, and support peace processes.
CFJ particularly welcomes the report’s recommendation to convene an extraordinary session on the Sudanese crisis with a view to proposing a roadmap for resolving the conflict. If properly prepared and conducted with broad participation, such a session could provide a necessary African parliamentary space to place civilian protection, humanitarian access, accountability, the cessation of external interference, and the role of African and international mechanisms at the centre of the political discussion on Sudan.
CFJ also welcomes the recommendation to mandate members of the two relevant Permanent Committees to undertake a fact-finding and information mission to Sudan. CFJ stresses that any future parliamentary mission should be guided by the principles of neutrality, protection of victims and witnesses, do no harm, and safe participation of Sudanese civil society, including women human rights defenders, survivors, internally displaced persons, refugees, and representatives of affected communities.
CFJ further underlines the importance of the report’s call for the cessation of hostilities, the encouragement of all peace initiatives, and the prioritisation of civilian protection and unhindered humanitarian access. CFJ affirms that any political or security process addressing the crisis in Sudan must place the protection of civilians at its centre, particularly in the most affected areas, including Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum, Gezira, and other areas facing increased risks of violations, displacement, and humanitarian collapse.
CFJ also welcomes the report’s condemnation of the involvement of external actors in the Sudanese conflict, and its recognition of the factors fuelling the continuation of the war. CFJ calls on the African Union, Member States, and relevant regional and international mechanisms to work towards ending any external support that contributes to prolonging the conflict, including the transfer of weapons, ammunition, military equipment, or any direct or indirect support to the warring parties, and to ensure accountability for all those contributing to the escalation of violations or the obstruction of peace efforts.
CFJ considers the report’s recommendation that the African Union Commission provide the Pan-African Parliament with a dedicated budget line for peace and security to be an important institutional measure. Such support is essential to ensure that PAP’s engagement on Sudan does not remain limited to political discussion, but develops into institutional action capable of ensuring follow-up, convening sessions, undertaking missions, issuing recommendations, and engaging national parliaments and relevant African mechanisms.
The Committee for Justice had participated in the discussions surrounding the joint meeting on the security crisis in Sudan and its humanitarian consequences, which brought together members of the Permanent Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict Resolution and the Permanent Committee on Justice and Human Rights of the Pan-African Parliament on 21 July 2026 at PAP Headquarters in Midrand, South Africa. Through its participation and side discussions, CFJ emphasised the importance of moving PAP’s engagement on Sudan from general debate to an institutional follow-up track, including a dedicated session on the Sudanese crisis, stronger civilian protection, cessation of hostilities, addressing external interference fuelling the conflict, and supporting the role of African and international mechanisms in documentation and accountability. CFJ notes that several of these points were reflected in the adopted recommendations, including the call for an extraordinary session on Sudan, a fact-finding and information mission, support for initiatives aimed at the cessation of hostilities, and condemnation of the involvement of external actors in the Sudanese conflict.
CFJ calls for the next steps by the Pan-African Parliament on Sudan to include the meaningful participation of Sudanese civil society, victims’ and survivors’ groups, women human rights defenders, independent experts, and relevant African and international mechanisms. CFJ also stresses the importance of linking any future extraordinary session or parliamentary follow-up to the Banjul Joint Declaration on Sudan, and to complementarity between the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan and the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan. This would strengthen independent documentation, protection of victims and witnesses, evidence preservation, accountability, and prevention of further atrocities.
Ahmed Mefreh, Executive Director of the Committee for Justice, said:
“The adoption of this report and its recommendations represents an important development in African parliamentary engagement on Sudan. The Sudanese crisis does not require statements of condemnation only, but institutional follow-up tracks, dedicated sessions, fact-finding missions, and stronger coordination between African Union organs, international mechanisms, and Sudanese civil society. The Pan-African Parliament can play an important role in transforming demands for civilian protection, accountability, and an end to external interference into a clearer African political agenda.”
CFJ reiterates its readiness to continue cooperating with the Pan-African Parliament, the African Union, African and international mechanisms, and civil society partners to support an effective and responsible African track on Sudan, focused on civilian protection, ending violations, ensuring accountability, and enabling Sudanese people to participate in shaping their country’s future on the basis of justice, peace, and human dignity.