Sudan has cautioned the African Union fact-finding Mission against publishing a final report on the conflict before hearing from all affected parties.
The warning was issued on Wednesday, May 13, during the 87th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul, where Sudanese officials met with the head of the AU fact-finding Mission and AU Commissioner for Sudan, Hatem al-Saim.
Sudan’s Ambassador to Addis Ababa and head of delegation, Zain Ibrahim, said the mission should complete investigations with all affected groups, including Sudan’s national human rights mechanism and victims of alleged abuses by the Rapid Support Forces within the country.
The Sudanese delegation also objected to the joint AU-UN fact-finding approach, arguing that existing international and national mechanisms were adequate for addressing human rights concerns.
The AU and UN missions had earlier issued the “Banjul Declaration” during the commission’s session, calling for an end to attacks on civilians, an immediate ceasefire and investigations into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces.
The declaration further recommended the establishment of an African-led accountability mechanism to prosecute perpetrators of abuses linked to the ongoing conflict.
