As Sudan’s Attorney General arrives in Geneva for the 63rd Human Rights Council session, civil society groups are urging the UN to extend the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission’s mandate for two years amid escalating violence in North Kordofan and warnings that El Obeid stands on the brink of crisis.
Delegation Leadership Arrives for 63rd UN Human Rights Council Session
The Sudanese delegation arrived in Geneva led by the Attorney General as international bodies gather for the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council, scheduled to run from September 7 through October 7, 2026. The high-level diplomatic presence arrives against a backdrop of mounting international scrutiny regarding accountability and civilian protection across Sudan. Attorney General Arrives in Geneva to Lead Sudanese Delegation to 63rd Human Rights Council Session.
Ahead of the formal proceedings, a coalition of civil society organizations addressed member and observer states to press for decisive institutional action. The gathered advocates called on the council to guarantee that independent investigative mechanisms receive the necessary political backing and operational capacity to document ongoing violations. Ahead of the UN Human Rights Council’s 63rd session (7 September-7 October 2026), undersigned civil society organisations wrote to urge delegations to support a mandate extension for the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) for the Sudan, in full, for two years.
Push for a Two-Year Mandate Extension for the Fact-Finding Mission
International nongovernmental organizations are urging the United Nations to extend the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan in full for a duration of two years. Three years following its initial establishment, the mission remains a critical international mechanism with the mandate to independently investigate and report on violations committed throughout Sudan with a view to supporting accountability efforts, including by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and through cases before domestic courts, under the principle of universal jurisdiction.
According to the civil society appeal, the next Council resolution on Sudan should ensure that the FFM has adequate resources to fulfil its mandate to investigate ongoing grave violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law and related crimes, collect and preserve evidence, and identify perpetrators with a view to ensuring that they are held accountable. The ongoing conflict is fueled by pervasive impunity as warring parties continue to show utter disregard for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan. The coalition noted that warring parties remain unwilling or unable to conduct genuine, thorough, prompt, and impartial investigations and prosecutions, making independent international oversight indispensable.
The Brink of Crisis in El Obeid and North Kordofan
The upcoming council session follows intense international focus on regional flashpoints, notably the situation in and around El Obeid. During the preceding 62nd session of the Human Rights Council, which took place from 15 June to 8 July 2026 in Geneva, the council held an Urgent Debate on the human rights situation in and around El Obeid in the context of the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The European Union welcomed that the Council was taking action seeking to prevent further atrocities by the RSF. At HRC62, the European Union remained a principled voice in support of the universal promotion and protection of human rights, marking also the 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Council on 19 June.
“We meet at a moment for prevention. El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, stands on the brink. El Obeid must not become another El Fasher. Kordofan must not become another Darfur.”
EU Ambassador Deike Potzel
The EU called on all parties to cease hostilities, respect international humanitarian law, and underlined the need for an immediate ceasefire and an inclusive Sudanese-led political process. Furthermore, the EU noted that states with influence have the duty to exercise it now. Civil society groups have likewise requested that the next Council resolution should request a written report on the findings of the FFM’s urgent inquiry into El Obeid, requested by Council resolution 62/1, as part of an effort to comprehensively report to UN bodies.
Strengthening Investigative Resources and Regional Synergies
Advocates stress that keeping pace with mounting documentation demands requires bolstering the financial and technical capacity of the UN inquiry team. It should request a written report on the findings of the FFM’s urgent inquiry into El Obeid, requested by Council resolution 62/1, as part of an effort to comprehensively report to UN bodies. Additionally, the Council should strengthen the FFM’s capacity by providing it with adequate financial resources and expertise.
It should consider ways to further enhance the FFM’s capacity, and that of the UN system, to support accountability efforts, including through the collection, consolidation and preservation of evidence on suspected perpetrators of crimes under international law. This should be part of a holistic approach to atrocity prevention and accountability.
As diplomatic negotiations unfold in Geneva through October, the core question remains whether member states will commit the resources and political will necessary to break the cycle of violence and ensure lasting accountability for violations across Sudan.
