Yasser Arman: UNHRC Sudan War Criticism Focuses On Secondary Issues

• Yasser Arman, head of the SPLM-Democratic Revolutionary Current, criticized international institutions for focusing on partial issues rather than ending the Sudan war.
• He held meetings with UN Human Rights Council officials, international organizations, and governments during the 63rd UNHRC session in Geneva.
• Arman stated that while Sudan's agenda was high-level, it lacked a primary focus on stopping the war or achieving a humanitarian ceasefire.
• He argued that issues like displacement, sexual violence, and arms embargo expansion are consequences of the war and require its cessation as a prerequisite for resolution.
• Arman expressed doubt about expanding the arms embargo to all of Sudan, noting its 20-year failure to protect civilians in Darfur.

He firmly asserted that these pressing concerns cannot be adequately addressed or resolved without first bringing the conflict to a halt.

Yasser Arman, who leads the Sudan People's Liberation Movement – Democratic Revolutionary Current, has voiced strong criticisms regarding how international bodies are addressing the ongoing situation in Sudan. According to a report dated September 16, 2026, from Rome, Arman specifically highlighted a perceived preoccupation with secondary issues, rather than a concerted effort to pressure for an end to the protracted conflict.

Arman's remarks followed a series of engagements he undertook in Geneva, where he held discussions with officials from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). These meetings occurred on the sidelines of the 63rd UN Human Rights Council session, an event scheduled to continue its activities through the following October. During his time in Geneva, Arman connected with representatives from various international organizations and governments, specifically those from among the 47 member states comprising the Council. A notable meeting also took place with Mohamed Chande Othman, who heads the fact-finding mission dedicated to Sudan.

Speaking to the Sudan Tribune, Arman acknowledged that the Sudan conflict held a prominent and high-level position on the agenda of the UN Human Rights Council. However, he stressed that this elevated status alone was insufficient to tackle the crisis effectively. His primary concern was the apparent lack of central focus on achieving a definitive end to the war or securing a humanitarian ceasefire, which he believes are crucial steps to mitigate the severe humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the country.

Arman elaborated that many of the critical issues brought before the Council, such as widespread displacement, rampant sexual violence, and even discussions around expanding the arms embargo across all of Sudan, are fundamentally consequences of the ongoing hostilities. He firmly asserted that these pressing concerns cannot be adequately addressed or resolved without first bringing the conflict to a halt. His critique underscores a belief that the international community is treating symptoms rather than the underlying disease of the war itself.

Among the specific topics discussed at the UN Human Rights Council was the potential expansion of the existing arms embargo to encompass the entirety of Sudan, moving beyond its current application solely in Darfur. While this measure aims to curb the flow of weapons, Arman expressed skepticism about its efficacy, drawing parallels to past experiences. He pointed out that a similar arms embargo has been in place in Darfur for more than two decades, yet, in his view, it has demonstrably failed to provide adequate protection for civilians in that region.

Arman's argument suggests that merely extending such a measure without addressing the core conflict would likely yield similar unsatisfactory results. He emphasized that the more comprehensive and profound challenge facing the international community is devising a strategy to effectively stop the war and, concurrently, to alleviate the immense humanitarian suffering. This perspective highlights a critical divergence in approaches to the Sudan conflict, with Arman advocating for a direct intervention to cease hostilities as the paramount objective for the international community's Sudan response.

Lawyers advising clients with operations or trade in Sudan should closely monitor discussions at the UN Human Rights Council regarding the conflict, particularly any potential expansion of the arms embargo beyond Darfur, as this could introduce new compliance obligations or sanctions for businesses operating in the region.

Source: Original reporting via Sudan Tribune