UN Fact-Finding Mission Dismisses Sudan Government's 'Weak' Refusal of Access Amid Chemical Weapons Probe

The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan has strongly dismissed arguments from the government aligned with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) regarding its refusal to grant investigators entry into the country, labeling the justifications as “weak.”

Mohamed Chande Othman, chairman of the mission, stated in an interview with Sky News Arabia that the body stands ready to investigate the SAF’s alleged chemical weapons programme following recent reports uncovering its existence. The SAF-aligned government had previously maintained that its own national investigative commission is sufficient and that multiple international bodies are already reviewing the ongoing conflict.

“I think those arguments are weak arguments because each mechanism is very specific,” Mohamed Chande Othman noted following the presentation of the mission's latest report, titled Fuelling the Conflict, to the UN Human Rights Council. He emphasized that the mission's primary focus remains identifying perpetrators to collect evidence for future accountability.

Despite facing opposition from specific nations arguing that fact-finding projects require host-country consent, Mohamed Chande Othman rejected this stance, pointing out that such missions are established through a majority vote by Human Rights Council members. Even while denied direct physical access to Sudan, the mission intends to press forward with investigations into external actors fueling the war, including weapons supply, training, and support provided to the warring factions.

During the presentation to the council, over 30 states and roughly 10 civil society organisations engaged in discussions centering heavily on the influence of foreign actors. “In order for civilian harm to stop, the war must stop and whatever fuels the war must also stop,” Mohamed Chande Othman stated.

Addressing allegations that the SAF is manufacturing chemical weapons utilizing chlorine, Mohamed Chande Othman confirmed that the mission would thoroughly examine these credible claims of international humanitarian law and human rights violations. Both the SAF and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are bound by obligations under international humanitarian law and previously committed to safeguarding civilians via the Jeddah Declaration in May 2023.

The devastating conflict erupted in April 2023 following a bitter power struggle between the SAF, commanded by Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, and the paramilitary RSF, led by Gen Mohamed Dagalo. The war has displaced millions, killed tens of thousands, and pushed approximately 20 million people into severe hunger, creating one of the planet's worst humanitarian crises. Despite international pressure and repeated ceasefire mediation efforts by the US and regional powers, Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan has vowed to fight until the RSF is fully defeated, with both sides facing widespread accusations of grave abuses.

Recent warnings from the UN fact-finding mission highlight that foreign logistical networks, fighters, and military technology are strengthening both factions, facilitating sophisticated attacks on civilians. Evidence gathered regarding the SAF indicates the deployment of foreign-supplied combat drones and loitering munitions capable of hovering before striking, which have been used in assaults on civilian targets such as Yabus Market in Blue Nile State.

Concurrently, investigative reports by The New York Times and The Washington Post revealed that the SAF not only utilized chemical weapons in the conflict but also established a covert stockpile tested in the desert of Sudan before attempting to cover its tracks. Mohamed Chande Othman confirmed that investigations into the chain of responsibility and external support are expanding deeply into the roles of foreign actors in training and deployment.

Regarding the future governance of Sudan, Mohamed Chande Othman deferred to the political aspirations of the Sudanese people, stating that the clear consensus favors establishing a civilian-led, democratic process.