Geneva / Human Rights Council
Within the framework of the participation of the Federation of Sudanese Human Rights
Centers and the Dawn Organization for Peace, Development and Human Rights in the 60th
session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, an oral statement was delivered on
behalf of Sudanese human rights organizations during the interactive dialogue with the
Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries, under item 3 of the Council’s agenda.
In its statement, the Federation condemned the use of mercenaries by the Sudanese Armed
Forces in the ongoing conflict in Sudan since around mid-2023, and called on the Council to
activate its international mechanisms to prevent, prohibit, and criminalize the use of
mercenaries in wars and armed conflicts, and to ensure accountability for the crimes
committed by the Sudanese Armed Forces against civilians in Sudan.
The statement, delivered by the Federation on behalf of several Sudanese human rights
organizations and civil society institutions, read as follows:
Mr. President,
We stand before this esteemed Council to denounce one of the gravest practices carried out
by the Sudanese Armed Forces in the context of the ongoing bloody conflict in Sudan: the
systematic recruitment and use of mercenaries as a tool to impose domination and control, in
flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and of the Sudanese people’s right to
self-determination. International organizations and eyewitnesses have documented the
involvement of the Sudanese Armed Forces in recruiting foreign fighters into their ranks,
notably from the Dinka Ngok, as well as from the Fur, Masalit, and Tama tribes, and
employing them in military operations targeting civilians in Khartoum, Darfur, Kordofan, and
beyond.
These practices have resulted in:
- The perpetration of mass massacres against civilians, particularly women and
children. - The escalation of rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war.
- The forced displacement of more than ten million internally displaced persons and
refugees. - The obstruction of humanitarian aid delivery and the destruction of essential civilian
infrastructure.
These violations constitute not only war crimes but also crimes against humanity, warranting
the prosecution of their perpetrators before the International Criminal Court, in accordance
with the principle of universal jurisdiction and the imperatives of international justice.
Mr President,
We call upon this esteemed council to:
- Condemn the use of mercenaries by the Sudanese Armed Forces as a threat to
international peace and security. - Strengthen the mandate of the Working Group on mercenaries and grant it an
expanded mandate to monitor and document mercenary activities in Sudan. - Impose individual and international sanctions on officers and military leaders
responsible for the use of mercenaries. - Refer the Sudanese file to the International Criminal Court to ensure accountability
and an end to impunity.
Thank you, Mr. President.