Sudan Defenders statement on participation at the May 2026 ACHPR
The Sudanese Coalition of Human Rights Defenders participated in the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights held in Banjul, The Gambia, amid the ongoing war in Sudan and the widespread violations and escalating humanitarian crisis affecting millions of civilians across the country.
The Coalition’s participation comes as part of its continued efforts to amplify the voices of victims, survivors, and human rights defenders at regional and international platforms, while shedding light on the crimes and violations committed against civilians, including extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, and the direct targeting of civilians, humanitarian workers, and human rights defenders.
During the session, the Coalition followed discussions related to the work of the African Commission’s Fact-Finding Mission and the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan, which addressed the human rights situation and ongoing grave violations in the country, as well as ways to strengthen protection, accountability, and justice for victims.
The Coalition welcomes the Banjul Joint Declaration on Sudan issued by the African Commission’s Fact-Finding Mission and the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan, considering it an important step toward strengthening regional and international accountability and a clear recognition of the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe and serious violations facing civilians in Sudan.
The Coalition highly values the declaration’s clear calls for the protection of civilians, unhindered humanitarian access, and support for survivors through medical, psychosocial, and legal services, in addition to emphasising the importance of protecting human rights defenders and frontline actors who continue documenting violations despite the serious risks and attacks they face.
The Coalition further stresses that continued impunity poses a direct threat to peace and stability in Sudan and underscores the need for concrete and serious steps to implement the declaration’s recommendations, including preserving evidence, strengthening accountability mechanisms, and ensuring that perpetrators of crimes and violations are held accountable.
The Coalition reiterates that any path toward peace in Sudan must be grounded in civilian protection, justice, and the meaningful participation of women, youth, and civil society, leading to an inclusive civilian-led process that addresses the root causes of the crisis and lays the foundation for a just and sustainable peace.
The Coalition also calls on the international community, the African Union, the United Nations, and Member States to intensify coordinated efforts to end violations, support humanitarian response efforts, protect civilians, and advance justice and accountability in Sudan.
Issued by:
Sudan Human Rights Defenders Coalition
Banjul – The Gambia
May 2026
