Honourable Chairperson, distinguished Commissioners, esteemed representatives of African States, and esteemed civil society colleagues,
It is with a deep sense of urgency and profound concern that I rise to speak on the ongoing and escalating conflict in Sudan, a tragedy that gravely undermines the most basic human rights of millions of civilians. As we gather here today under the mandate of this Commission to protect and promote human and peoples’ rights across the continent, we must confront the devastating impact of this conflict on the Sudanese people, whose rights are being egregiously violated on a scale that shocks the conscience.
The conflict in Sudan has triggered a humanitarian catastrophe of staggering proportions. Civilians, many of them already vulnerable, bear the brunt of this violence. They face indiscriminate attacks, widespread displacement, destruction of their livelihoods, and deprivation of essential services. The following violations, which are amongst the most egregious, deserve the Commission’s immediate attention:
1. Large-Scale Displacement
The conflict has displaced millions of Sudanese from their homes, forcing them into internal displacement camps or across borders into neighbouring countries. According to recent reports, over 9 million people – 7.3 million internally, and about 2 million in neighbouring countries – have been displaced since the outbreak of hostilities. These internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees often live in dire conditions, without adequate shelter, food, or healthcare. This mass displacement is not only a violation of their right to movement and residence but also exacerbates their vulnerability to further abuses, including sexual violence, exploitation, and trafficking.
2. Starvation as a Weapon of War
Deliberate starvation of civilian populations, through the blockade of humanitarian aid, destruction of crops, and targeting of food supplies, has become a tragic feature of this conflict. These acts constitute violations of international humanitarian law, specifically the prohibition of using starvation as a method of warfare. Tens of thousands of people are now on the brink of famine, and children, in particular, are facing acute malnutrition, with their right to food, health, and survival gravely compromised. The UN reports that around 18 million people are acutely food insecure and 5 million are facing starvation.
3. Targeting of Civilians and Indiscriminate Attacks
Civilians are routinely caught in the crossfire, and both state and non-state actors have reportedly engaged in indiscriminate attacks, including aerial bombardments and shelling in densely populated areas. The targeting of schools, hospitals, and markets, institutions protected under international law, has become a disturbing trend. These acts of violence violate not only the right to life but also the rights to health, education, and security of the person.
4. Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Women and girls are disproportionately affected by the conflict, with sexual violence being used as a tactic of war. The lack of accountability for such heinous crimes continues to embolden perpetrators. Survivors face stigma and receive inadequate support, deepening the long-term psychological and physical consequences of such violations.
5. Denial of Humanitarian Access
Humanitarian organizations face severe restrictions in reaching populations in need, often being targeted themselves or blocked from delivering life-saving aid. This denial of access further exacerbates the suffering of civilians, cutting them off from essential services such as medical care, food, water, and sanitation.
6. Backsliding of reforms related to freedom of religion
The ongoing conflict has undercut the revolutionary gains made by the transitional government in 2019 with regards to freedom of religion as the conflict has intensified religious tensions, and increased violence against women and girls. We are deeply concerned by the escalation of discrimination and violence against religious minorities since the outbreak of armed conflict in 2023. These abuses include, extrajudicial killings, unlawful detention, indiscriminate shelling, forced displacement, child recruitment, sexual violence, and looting. Women from religious minorities are especially vulnerable to rape, forced marriage, and domestic violence.
The state’s severe restrictions on religious freedom have escalated, with attacks on places of worship increasing, particularly during the conflict as attacks and destruction of places of worship for all religions are witnessed, most notably churches. As a result, religious minorities have been unable to attend services, meetings, or other gatherings severely limiting their ability to freely exercise their religious freedoms. This is also exacerbated by the denial of permits and approvals to construct places of worship as observed by the 2023 US commission report on freedom of religion or belief in Sudan. The destruction and confiscation of churches is a flagrant violation of the right to property, as guaranteed by Article 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which affirms that the right to property is inviolable. Arbitrary arrests based on religious beliefs further compound these violations. While the transitional government made some efforts to address the expropriation of church properties, no substantial compensation or protections have materialized. This absence of safe and accessible spaces for religious practice not only impedes the ability to express religious beliefs but also exacerbates the vulnerability of religious minorities in an already precarious situation.
Honourable Chairperson, these violations are not isolated incidents; they are part of a broader pattern of impunity that has plagued Sudan for years. Despite numerous international appeals and diplomatic efforts, the situation continues to deteriorate. This Commission has a moral and legal duty to act decisively and urgently.
We call upon the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to:
1. Condemn in the strongest terms the ongoing atrocities and the widespread violations of human rights in Sudan.
2. Urge the African Union and regional bodies to intensify efforts to mediate a ceasefire and ensure the protection of civilians.
3. Take a keen interest in the three-member independent Fact-Finding Mission that was established by the Human Rights Council in October last year, with the aim of collaboration and utilising their findings for advocacy and accountability.
4. Demand accountability for all perpetrators of human rights abuses through the appropriate legal channels, including the International Criminal Court and national jurisdictions.
5. Appeal for unrestricted humanitarian access to conflict-affected areas to provide immediate relief to suffering populations.
6. Continue to urge for solidarity for the people of Sudan so that we may not for a single day forget the humanitarian crises that is currently unfolding.
7. Urge the government to reaffirm its commitment to freedom of religion or belief and worship as recognized African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and ICCPR) by refraining from discrimination based on religion, expanding legal protections that safeguard the rights of all religious communities in Sudan, and in particular ensure that legal reform protects non-Muslims and women and ensure accountability for the violations of this right.
Honourable Chair, the situation in Sudan is a big blot on our collective humanity and requires urgent attention. Sudan’s civilians—women, children, and men—cannot wait. Their dignity and humanity are being trampled daily, and it is incumbent upon all of us, as custodians of human rights, to stand firm against these atrocities.
Let us not only speak for the people of Sudan but act for them, ensuring that justice, accountability, and peace prevail.
Thank you.
