Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sudan At the United Nations and International Organizations – Geneva

Statement by His Excellency the Attorney General/ His Excellency Al-Fateh Mohamed Issa Taifour, Head of the Delegation of the Republic of Sudan

In the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue Session on the Report of the Fact-Finding Committee on Sudan.. During the 57th Session of the Human Rights Council

*September 10, 2024

Thank you, Mr. President,

Allow me, on behalf of my country’s delegation, and in my capacity as Attorney General of the Republic of Sudan and as Chairman of the National Committee for the Investigation of Crimes and Violations of National Law and International Humanitarian Law, to extend thanks to Ambassador Omar Zniber for his wise leadership of the Council’s work.

Mr. President,

The committee ensured that its investigations complied with the requirements of fair trials in all the cases filed, which amounted to (18,741) cases. Some cases were filed against members of the regular forces, and immunity was lifted from some of them. (43) cases were dismissed during the investigation stage, and investigations were completed in (273) cases, which were referred to the national courts, where (144) cases have been adjudicated. (346) fugitives were announced to turn themselves in to justice, and we contacted (6) countries to hand over (16) accused individuals believed to be in those countries. Here, we renew our assertion of the competence and willingness of the Sudanese judiciary to prevent impunity.

The war initiated by the rebel Rapid Support Forces in Sudan has witnessed atrocities, including war crimes against unarmed civilians, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The ethnic group Masalit in West Darfur has been systematically targeted, with more than (5000) killed and more than (8000) injured. The governor of West Darfur, Mr. Khamis Abakar, was arrested and killed, and his body was mutilated.

Crimes of rape and sexual violence in all its forms were committed, and the number of victims reached (966). Children were forcibly recruited into combat, resulting in the death of (4850) children out of (9000) forcibly recruited. (30) children were captured on the battlefields and returned to their families through a joint process between the Armed Forces and the Child Prosecution Office with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The total number of victims from these violations reached (27,594), with (42,661) injured.

Mr. President,

The rebel militias overran vast areas of Sudan for the purposes of looting and pillaging, committing massacres against unarmed civilians between June and August 2024 in the states of Al-Jazirah and Sennar, in the villages of Wad Al-Noora, Al-Adnib, Wad Al-Asha, Jalagani, Sheikh Al-Samani, and Qoz Al-Naqa. The number of dead reached (419), and (420) were injured.

The rebel militia also committed severe violations against people with disabilities, killing (8) of them by live ammunition. Additionally, Al-Daw Hajouj nursing home for the elderly was subjected to a severe blockade, leading to the death of (8) elderly people due to a lack of essential services.

In blatant violation of national laws and international humanitarian law, the rebel militia executed (12) civilians extrajudicially in the Wad Nubawi neighborhood of Omdurman.

Mr. President,

In the context of their ongoing violations, the rebel militia attacked (36) prisons in several Sudanese states and released (19,481) prisoners, some of whom were convicted terrorists and recruited them into their forces. They also recruited a large number of mercenaries from more than (12) countries. Authorities arrested (105) mercenaries on the battlefield. The militia committed large-scale terrorist crimes, most notably attacks on (7) civilian airports, (18) diplomatic missions and international organizations, looting humanitarian aid convoys, and hindering their delivery. They also looted chemically treated seeds and sold them in markets, causing widespread health damage to citizens.

Mr. President,

The rebel militia targeted civilians and civilian objects, occupying citizens’ homes, looting their contents, and turning them into military barracks. They looted and occupied (540) thousand civilian properties, 80% of which were citizens’ homes. They also destroyed and looted approximately (570) thousand metric tons of food, medical, and relief supplies. The militia desecrated (1002) mosques and (51) churches, attacked (5) museums and archaeological, cultural, and heritage sites, and occupied (250) hospitals, rendering them out of service. (15) hospitals were turned into military barracks. In addition, the militia attacked (26) pharmaceutical factories and (20) banks, assaulted justice institutions and law enforcement agencies, and wild reserves, planting drugs within them. They also attacked the agricultural, industrial, energy, oil, and telecommunications sectors, causing massive material losses.

Mr. President,

In conclusion, we recommend the following:

1. The Human Rights Council should apply the principle of complementarity by supporting the national committee and not imposing any alternative external mechanisms.

2. End the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission.

3. Apply necessary pressure on the UAE and other countries to stop their support for the rebellion, which has prolonged the war, and hold them responsible for compensation for the extensive damage caused to the Sudanese.

4. Cooperation from regional countries to facilitate access to victims and witnesses, recover stolen goods, and extradite criminals.

5. Assist in establishing and supporting a fund for compensating victims and those affected.

6. Cooperation from all countries in facilitating the national committee’s work in combating organized crime and terrorism, and classifying the rebel militia as a terrorist group.

Thank you, Mr. President.