The UN Independent International Fact‑Finding Mission on Sudan and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) have issued a joint statement marking three years since the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan, warning of escalating violence and the growing risk of further grave crimes against civilians.
According to the statement, serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law continue to be committed by both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The missions highlighted a significant escalation in both the intensity and geographic spread of the violence across the country, alongside the persistence of impunity.
The statement noted that tens of thousands of civilians have been killed since the conflict began in April 2023, in a context marked by systematic violations including unlawful killings, arbitrary detention, and torture, as well as indiscriminate attacks, aerial bombardments, and the targeting of populated areas and civilian infrastructure—including healthcare facilities and markets.
The missions further documented the targeting of humanitarian and medical workers, obstruction of humanitarian access, and ongoing patterns of sexual violence and ethnically motivated attacks, particularly in Darfur, some of which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The statement also highlighted that the conflict has triggered one of the world’s largest displacement crises, with more than 8.6 million internally displaced persons and over 4 million refugees, noting that women, children, and other vulnerable groups bear the heaviest burden of the conflict’s consequences.
The two missions stressed that the continuation of these violations without accountability remains a key driver of the conflict’s prolongation. They called for urgent measures, including an immediate ceasefire, strengthened protection for civilians, and the removal of all obstacles to humanitarian assistance.
The statement underscored the importance of supporting international justice efforts, including cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the establishment of independent judicial mechanisms capable of holding perpetrators accountable for crimes committed in Sudan.
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) urges an immediate and serious response to these warnings, calling for decisive action to halt ongoing violations and ensure accountability, in order to protect civilians and help create the conditions necessary for peace and stability in Sudan.