Sudan Events – Follow-ups
The Acting Minister of Justice, Dr. Moawia Osman Mohamed Khair, met with Mr. Jörg Lauber, President of the Human Rights Council and the Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The two sides discussed opportunities for cooperation and coordination between Sudan and the Human Rights Council.
Dr. Moawia provided an explanation about the situation in the country and issues related to human rights, especially the efforts of the judicial authorities aimed at establishing justice, the rule of law, accountability, combating impunity, protecting civilians, and addressing human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law.
He pointed to the reopening of courts, prosecutor offices, and police stations in the Gezira and Khartoum states following the expulsion of the rebellious militia, and their resumption of work. Additionally, he highlighted the restoration of the electronic records of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior, which had been subjected to attack, as well as the establishment of an electronic platform to receive complaints and the removal of territorial jurisdiction restrictions for registering complaints.
The Minister of Justice pointed to various human rights violations committed by the militia, including the destruction of services, occupation of civilian properties and citizens’ homes, forced displacement, bombing of markets, and committing massacres against civilians. The most recent of these massacres occurred in the Al-Qutina area, where over 300 innocent civilians lost their lives.
He reiterated Sudan’s commitment to cooperate with the Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner’s office, and to empower the appointed expert, stressing the importance of reports reflecting the actual situation on the ground and ensuring the use of credible and verified sources of information.
He also reviewed the roadmap announced by the Chairman of the Sovereign Council regarding the arrangements for the transitional period after the war, and expressed appreciation for Switzerland’s efforts to support stability in Sudan through the work of the Swiss envoy to the Horn of Africa, Sylvain Estier, as well as its humanitarian contributions.
For his part, the President of the Human Rights Council welcomed Sudan’s cooperation with human rights mechanisms and the facilitation of the return of the UN Human Rights Office staff to Sudan to resume their work. He also expressed his hopes for the return of stability and peace to Sudan.
