Fighting broke out between rival armies in April 2023 following a failure in the transition to civilian rule, following the overthrow of former longtime President Omar al-Bashir four years earlier.
Sudan’s military government’s army is battling former allied Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia fighters for control of the vast country, where more than 12 million people have been uprooted.
Millions of people have crossed the border in what is the world’s largest displacement crisis.
In an in-depth interview with UN Newsthe United Nations human rights office (OHCHR), Senior Sudanese official Li Fung describes the scale of ongoing violations, the urgent need for accountability and why the courage of Sudanese communities remains a vital source of hope.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity
UN News: As we celebrate Human Rights Day, how would you describe the current human rights situation in Sudan?
Li Fung: This remains extremely serious. The situation is above all a human rights and protection crisis caused by two and a half years of conflict and widespread violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law throughout the country.
This has triggered the world’s largest humanitarian emergency, mass displacement and shocking levels of hunger.
The scale and brutality of the violations we continue to document reflect a crisis that has upended the lives of millions and deprived countless Sudanese of the fundamental protections to which every human being is entitled.
The devastating impact of the conflict on the civilian population is difficult to express. Cities reduced to rubble, families torn apart overnight, and civilians forced to make impossible choices just to survive.
But in this context, OHCHR continues to stand with the people of Sudan, witnessing and documenting violations, advocating for actions to protect human rights, and supporting the UN and humanitarian response.
On Human Rights Day, our message is clear: the human rights of the Sudanese people must be respected. All parties must respect their obligations under international law, protect civilians and ensure that those responsible for violations are held accountable. The people of Sudan deserve peace, justice and full respect for their fundamental human race.
Sudanese women meet with OHCHR team in Khartoum.
UN News: Many Sudanese fear that ongoing violations will go unpunished. What accountability mechanism currently exists and what role can OHCHR play in ensuring justice for victims in Sudan?
Li Fung: Accountability remains one of the most pressing challenges in Sudan, but despite the challenges of the current situation, various mechanisms exist.
OHCHR, and in particular our country office in Sudan, have a very important role to play in promoting accountability. We continue to document and verify violations of international law under extremely difficult conditions, with a view to preserving what happened on the ground, giving voice to survivors, victims and witnesses and ensuring that this can fuel accountability processes.
We also report to the High Commissioner [Volker Türk]who reports to Human Rights Councilwhich ensures that the situation in Sudan remains on the international agenda. Additionally, we engage with survivors, advocate for their rights and inclusion, and support efforts to rebuild and strengthen rule of law institutions capable of delivering justice.
At the international level, there are also several important mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court [ICC]which has a mandate to investigate international crimes.
In addition, the ICC established an international, independent fact-finding mission in Sudan, whose role is complementary to that of our national office. It documents violations, examines responsibilities and international crimes that may have been committed.
But among all these international efforts, it is important to highlight national responsibility; and that is why we are working with different rule of law institutions to seek the capabilities needed to advance accountability and justice for the people of Sudan.
UN News: As we all know, access to affected areas in Sudan and particularly Darfur is extremely limited. How can the international community meaningfully support the documentation of human rights violations in these areas?
Li Fung: When it comes to responding to the crisis in Sudan, support from the international community is vital in many ways. First, to finance the human rights response, the humanitarian response requires resources to be able to respond to the urgent needs and priorities of the Sudanese population.
Second, political action. Member States have an extremely important role to play in respecting international law, using their influence to push for dialogue, for peace, to achieve a ceasefire, to truly end the flow of arms, to make progress on accountability and justice for the Sudanese people.
Documenting violations on the ground is essential to all of these efforts, because it really informs the efforts being made in response to humanitarian needs, to the priorities of the population, to advance the protection of civilians through very concrete and measurable actions.
The OHCHR team in Sudan listens to Sudanese women in Khartoum.
UN News: This is not the first time Sudan has witnessed such human rights violations – and many attribute it to decades of impunity. What concrete actions should the international community take to finally break this vicious circle of impunity?
Li Fung: Impunity fuels persistent cycles of violence and violations. Concrete steps can be taken, including supporting all efforts to seek accountability, supporting fact-finding, monitoring and documentation, which will lead to accountability processes that truly call for the protection of civilians and investigations.
It is also essential to include accountability on the path to peace in Sudan, as well as advocating for the inclusion of all voices of the Sudanese people from across the country, in order to achieve a sustainable and peaceful future for Sudan.
UN News: Finally, is there a light at the end of the tunnel regarding the human rights situation?
Li Fung: Yes, despite the immense suffering we see and the scale of the violations we continue to document, the light is there, and it comes above all from the Sudanese people themselves.
Despite enormous challenges, Sudanese human rights defenders, local humanitarian volunteers, and community groups and networks continue to demonstrate extraordinary courage and perseverance.
Their resilience and initiatives to support their own communities highlight the urgent need for sustained international support, stronger protection measures and unhindered humanitarian access. Their determination, even in cities scarred by conflict, is a powerful reminder that the foundations for a just and sustainable future still exist.
I think there is also hope in the renewed attention to the situation in Sudan. It is regrettable that despite numerous warnings of the risk of widespread atrocities and violations, it was only after this occurred that international attention began to focus on Sudan. But now we must seize this moment. We will continue to stand with the Sudanese people.
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
