UN Human Rights Council names independent members for Sudan fact-finding mission

The president of the UN Human Rights Council, Václav Bálek, announced on Monday the appointment of Mohamed Chande Othman of Tanzania, Joy Ezeilo of Nigeria, and Mona Rishmawi of Jordan/Switzerland as the three independent members of the newly formed Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan.

Mr. Othman will serve as the Chair of the Mission.

Established in October by the Human Rights Council, the Fact-Finding Mission is tasked with investigating human rights violations, abuses, and violations of international humanitarian law in the context of the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan.

The Mission, operating for an initial one-year duration, will collect and analyze evidence, identify responsible individuals and entities, and make recommendations to end impunity and ensure accountability.

The Council has requested an oral update on findings at its fifty-sixth session in June-July 2024, followed by a comprehensive report in the fifty-seventh session in September-October 2024, with submission to the UN General Assembly in October 2024.

The appointment of these distinguished individuals underscores the commitment to impartial and thorough investigations in the face of the Sudanese conflict.

It would be recalled that Sudan spiralled into war after soaring tensions between army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo exploded into open fightingin mid-April.