Sudan: Extend the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission for two more years

In August 2025, Coalition for Genocide Response joined over 100 non-governmental organisations calling upon States to support a mandate extension for the Inde­pen­dent International Fact-Fin­ding Mission (FFM) for Sudan.

Extracts from letter can be found below.

To Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (Geneva, Switzerland)

14 August 2025 

Sudan: Extend the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission for two more years

Your Excellencies,

Ahead of the UN Human Rights Council’s 60^th session (8 Sep­tem­ber-3 October 2025), we, the un­der­si­gned civil society orga­ni­sa­tions, write to urge your delegation to support a mandate extension for the Inde­pen­dent International Fact-Fin­ding Mission (FFM) for the Sudan.

In light of the serious violations of international law committed by all parties to the conflict, inclu­ding alarming rates of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against women and girls, and of the on­­going need to collect and preserve evidence and identify those responsible with a view to en­su­ring that they are held accountable, the next Council resolution on Sudan should extend the FFM’s man­­date for at least two years. It should also re­quest the FFM to regu­larly re­port to the Council in the framework of public debates on Sudan’s human rights situation. […]

As the FFM highlighted in its June 2025 update: “One message emerged with resounding clarity: peace without justice is an illusion. Accountability is not a luxury; it is a prerequisite for a sustai­nable peace in Sudan as its very absence is amongst the key root causes of conflict. The preparations for justice should therefore begin now, and any peace agreement must address issues of justice.”

Investigations and public reporting remain indispensable, with a continued strong focus on inves­ti­­gating the current atrocities, including crimes of SGBV perpetrated against the Sudanese people, par­ti­cularly women and girls, by the warring parties.

As Sudan’s conflict is ongoing and egre­gious violations con­ti­nue to be committed by all parties to the conflict, with further needs for col­lection and preservation of evidence and identification of per­petrators, there is no other option for the Council but to extend the FFM’s mandate. 

At its upcoming 60^th session, the Human Rights Council should therefore:

• Extend the mandate of the FFM, in full, for two years;

• Request the FFM to provide the Human Rights Council with oral updates on its work at its 62^nd and 65^th sessions, to be followed by enhanced interactive dialogues that should include the participation of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, representatives of the Afri­can Union, the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, ci­vil society, victims and survivors and other relevant stakeholders, and com­pre­hensive reports at its 63^rd and 66^th sessions, to be followed by interactive dialogues, and to present the reports to the General Assembly at its 81^st and 82^nd sessions;

• Recommend that the General Assembly submit the reports of the FFM to the Security Coun­­cil for its consideration and appropriate action in order that those responsible for human rights violations, including those that may amount to crimes under international law, are held to account, including through the expansion of the International Criminal Court’s ju­ris­diction to cover the entire territory of Sudan and consideration of the scope for effective and targeted measures, including against those who appear to be most respon­sible for these crimes, taking into account the relevant conclusions and recommendations of the FFM;

• Call upon all parties concerned, including United Nations bodies, to consider implementa­tion of the recommendations made by the FFM in its reports in order to address the dire situation of human rights in Sudan;

• Invite the FFM to consider ways of briefing all relevant United Nations bodies, including the Security Council; and

• Make clear that the Human Rights Council will remain actively seized of the matter, including by assessing the situation in Sudan and appropriate responses, which could include further ex­ten­sions of the FFM’s mandate.

A two-year extension for the FFM’s mandate does not mean that the HRC should remain silent about Sudan for two years. Notwithstanding the proposed mandate extension, with associated reporting re­qui­rements, until the Council’s 66^th ses­sion (September 2027), the Council should adopt a resolu­tion on Su­dan at its 63^rd session (September 2026), taking stock of developments and following up on its action on the country to date. This should be a proactive initiative aimed at bringing violations and impu­nity to an end and advancing human rights and accountability in Sudan.

Furthermore, we urge the Council to follow up on resolutions S-32/1, 50/1, S-36/1, 54/2, and 57/2 by requesting additional reporting by the High Commissioner, with the assistance of his designated Expert, be­yond the Council’s 61^st session (February-April 2026).^[18] The Council should:

–   Request the High Commissioner, with the assistance of the Expert on human rights in the Sudan, to submit to the Human Rights Council at its 64^th and 67^th sessions comprehensive re­ports on the situation of human rights in the Sudan and on violations and abuses com­mit­ted by all parties to the conflict, to be followed by interactive dialogues with the par­ticipation of the High Commissioner and the Expert.

Finally, we urge States to pay their contributions to the UN in full and on time to mitigate the li­­qui­dity crisis and allow the FFM for Sudan, other independent investigations, and human rights bodies and mechanisms to fulfil their respective mandates, including by delivering outcomes and reports requested by intergovernmental bodies such as the Human Rights Council.

We thank you for your attention to these pressing issues and stand ready to provide your delegation with further information as required.

Sincerely, 

The list of signatories can be found here: https://defenddefenders.org/sudan-extend-ffm-mandate-two-more-years/