Your Excellencies,
In light of the situation in and around El Fasher, North Darfur, which after 18 months of siege fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with credible reports that crimes under international law are being committed, including in the form of targeted ethnic violence, and with risks of further atrocities in North Darfur and throughout Sudan, the UN Human Rights Council should urgently convene a special session.
The Council should task the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) for the Sudan to prepare a flash report to document atrocities being committed in and around El Fasher. The report should include recommendations to all parties to the conflict and assess the role of external actors with a view to ensuring that those individuals and entities responsible for violations are identified and held accountable. The FFM should be asked to share all relevant information with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to inform the Court’s investigations.
After the Council concluded its 60th regular session (8 September-8 October 2025), during which it extended the FFM’s mandate[1]for a year, the situation in Sudan continued to deteriorate, in particular in North Darfur and in the Kordofan region. The clear message in support of investigations and accountability the Council sent by adopting resolution 60/3[2] requires follow-up to specifically address these new developments.
On 27 October 2025, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights indicated[1] that his Office was “receiving multiple, alarming reports that the [RSF] are carrying out atrocities, including summary executions, after seizing control of large parts of […] El Fasher, North Darfur and of Bara city in North Kordofan state […].” He added that “[t]he risk of further large-scale, ethnically motivated violations and atrocities in El Fasher is mounting by the day,” especially as reports point to “ethnic motivations for killings” of civilians and persons hors de combat. “Given past realities in North Darfur, the likelihood of sexual violence against women and girls in particular is extremely high,” he also warned.