UN Human Rights Council Condemns Civilian Attacks in Sudan and Demands Immediate Truce

As Sudan's army advances in North Kordofan and Rapid Support Forces drone attacks intensify, the United Nations Human Rights Council has strongly condemned ongoing strikes against civilians, warning warring factions that there is no military solution to the conflict.

During a session in Geneva, the 47-member council adopted a resolution passing by a vote of 28 to 10, with nine abstentions, extending the mandate of its independent international fact-finding mission for Sudan. The resolution demands an immediate and complete ceasefire without preconditions, an independent monitoring mechanism, and the restoration of essential infrastructure. The Sudanese government had urged member states to reject the measure, arguing the council ignored its reservations.

The devastating war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which erupted in April 2023, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over 13 million people, according to human rights estimates. The UN resolution formally condemned widespread violations of international humanitarian law by both sides, highlighting indiscriminate aerial bombardments, drone strikes, and attacks on civilian infrastructure such as schools and hospitals. With both factions increasing drone deployment, UN data indicates that drone strikes accounted for more than 1,100 deaths in the first five months of the year alone.

Furthermore, the council denounced external interference, warning that illegal arms transfers, illicit financial networks, and foreign mercenaries continue to sustain the bloodshed. In February, the fact-finding mission reported that the RSF siege and capture of the North Darfur capital, el-Fasher, bore the hallmarks of genocide, documenting ethnic killings targeting non-Arab groups, widespread sexual violence, and the destruction of medical facilities following months of systematic deprivation.

In a related development, the World Food Programme reported that an airstrike hit a marked humanitarian food convoy traveling between Dilling and Kadugli in South Kordofan, killing one driver and destroying vital aid. This incident occurred on Saturday, just 24 hours after another WFP vehicle struck an explosive device in Dilling following a food distribution operation. Emphasizing that aid assets and humanitarian workers are never targets, the WFP has demanded a transparent investigation to hold perpetrators accountable under international law.