Foreign Minister Remained in HRC Session, Sudan Reaffirms Stance on Fact-Finding Mission, Sources Say

Cairo – Sudanhorizon – Sabah Mousa

Sources close to the ongoing sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva have denied reports claiming that Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem walked out of the Council’s session on Friday and left before the conclusion of the official discussions concerning the situation in Sudan.

The sources told Sudanhorizon that the minister left the session because he had a previously scheduled meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who departed with him at the same time. They also confirmed that the head of the Fact-Finding Mission was not present at the session, and that it was the mission’s deputy head who delivered the statement.

At the same time, the sources reaffirmed Sudan’s position regarding the Fact-Finding Mission, noting that the Human Rights Council has other mechanisms beyond the mission, whose approach, they said, has remained unchanged. According to the sources, the mission continues to characterize the conflict as involving two parties and equates the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in terms of responsibility for alleged violations.

They added that Sudan’s position on the Fact-Finding Mission is firm and will not change, based on the government’s belief that it possesses sufficient national human rights mechanisms. The sources stressed that the Sudanese government’s rejection of the mission does not mean it boycotts the Council session during which the mission’s statement is presented, nor that it withdraws from such sessions, contrary to reports that have circulated.

The sources further stated that the majority of member states in the Human Rights Council support Sudan and its government, and view the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a “criminal gang” responsible for numerous violations across the country.

Earlier reports had claimed that Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem left the Human Rights Council session in anger, accompanied by the Sudanese ambassador and the entire official delegation, in what was described as a surprise diplomatic move. Those reports said the departure came in response to remarks by the chair of the Council-appointed Fact-Finding Mission, who accused the Sudanese Armed Forces of committing crimes against civilians based on reports from various sources. The reports suggested the move reflected the Sudanese government’s complete rejection of what it considers biased and unacceptable interference in its internal affairs.

However, the sources rejected that account, emphasizing that the minister’s departure was solely due to his official engagements on the sidelines of the Council’s proceedings, specifically his meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and was not a protest against the session or the Fact-Finding Mission’s statement.

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