Sudan conflict: UNHRC passes resolution on human rights abuses amid the fighting

• Roshan Amiri
• . May 12, 2023
• . Update: May 12, 2023 4:59 pm
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The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), a United Nations body that promotes human rights across the world, has passed a resolution on human rights abuses in Sudan amid the fighting between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

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On Thursday, UNHRC adopted the resolution to condemn the civilian deaths and rights abuses in the country. The resolution drew attention to the human rights abuses in the country amid the conflict.

The United Nation’s top human rights body is made up of 47 U.N. member states. During the UNHRC meeting, the resolution on human rights abuses in Sudan received 18 votes in favour, 15 nations voted against the resolution and 14 other nations abstained from the resolution.

The resolution was passed with just 18 votes in favour. The resolution was aimed at scrutinising human rights abuses and violations in Sudan since mid-April.

On April 15, the fighting started between Sudan’s military, led by General Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF),  led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

According to the World Health Organisation, nearly 604 people have been killed and more than 5000 people have been injured in Sudan due to the conflict between the two Sudanese rivals.

Algeria rejected the UNHRC resolution on Sudan. Algeria’s representative, Faouzia Boumaiza-Mebarki, said it could send a negative message to both parties and could be a potential barrier to ongoing peace talks between the Sudanese military and the RSF in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Various Arab and African nations rejected the U.N. move. Reportedly, China said that Sudan and its warring parties should be “free from external pressure.”

Most Western countries voted in favour of the resolution. Europe and the United States co-sponsored the resolution on Sudan.

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During the meeting, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, accused the military and the RSF of violating international humanitarian law.