NGOs Urge UN Fact Finding Mission Sudan Mandate Extension

• Civil society organizations are urging the UN Human Rights Council to extend the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan for two years during its 63rd session.
• The coalition calls for enhanced financial resources and technical expertise to collect and preserve evidence for ICC prosecutions and universal jurisdiction cases.
• The appeal requests a comprehensive written report on the mission's urgent inquiry into events in El Obeid as mandated by resolution 62/1.
• Advocates emphasize the need for continued collaboration between the UN mechanism and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.

Rights organizations highlighted that warring parties in the region continue to operate with complete disregard for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and their signed commitments under the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan.

A coalition of non-governmental organizations has issued a joint appeal to permanent representatives of member and observer states ahead of the UN Human Rights Council 63rd session Sudan proceedings, scheduled to take place from September 7 to October 7, 2026. The signatory organizations are urging member delegations to back a full UN Fact Finding Mission Sudan mandate extension, advocating for a multi-year renewal structure that spans two full years to replace shorter operational terms.

Originally created three years ago, the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan remains a central mechanism for monitoring and documenting serious atrocities across the country. Rights organizations highlighted that warring parties in the region continue to operate with complete disregard for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and their signed commitments under the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan. Because domestic authorities and armed factions remain unwilling or unable to execute genuine, thorough, prompt, and impartial prosecutions, external investigative bodies remain essential.

The push for an expanded mandate centers on securing heightened financial resources and technical expertise for the mission. Rights groups are asking the Council to enhance the investigative panel's ability to collect, consolidate, and store universal jurisdiction Sudan war crimes evidence. Maintaining a robust evidentiary repository is designed to aid ongoing and future criminal proceedings, including cases before the International Criminal Court and national courts pursuing individual accountability.

A key requirement outlined in the joint appeal is the publication of a dedicated written report regarding the El Obeid inquiry UN Human Rights Council members mandated through resolution 62/1. Integrating these specialized findings into the mission's comprehensive reporting structure will ensure UN bodies receive fully developed files on localized violent incidents alongside systemic nationwide investigations.

Civil society representatives emphasized that transitioning the mission to a two-year operational framework will enable more strategic, efficient planning while bolstering broader atrocity prevention measures. Over the past year, the Human Rights Council has twice reaffirmed the value of the mission's investigations by consensus, acknowledging that establishing accountability for grave violations is indispensable to resolving the crisis in Sudan.

The appeal also highlights the necessity of deepening structural cooperation with African regional human rights institutions. The mission has recently collaborated with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR)-led Joint Fact-Finding Mission. Enhanced information-sharing and joint coordination between international and regional bodies are expected to reinforce civilian protection strategies, support sustainable peace initiatives, and ensure UN actions complement broader African-led mechanisms.

International criminal law practitioners and human rights litigators should monitor the FFM's mandate extension and evidence repository for potential use in upcoming ICC prosecutions and domestic universal jurisdiction filings. Additionally, compliance officers evaluating sanctions and corporate ESG risks in East Africa should track the FFM's forthcoming reports on Sudan to identify named perpetrators and high-risk commercial actors.

Source: Original reporting based on a joint NGO appeal to the UN Human Rights Council.