By Amal Bushara / GICJ

Sudan has been plagued by political unrest since its former president, Omar al-Bashir, was deposed and jailed in April 2019 following months of protests. On 15 June 2022, during the 50th Session of the Human Rights Council, the Deputy High Commissioner, Nada Al- Nashif, presented on a report detailing the situation of human rights violations and abuses committed during the period of the military takeover during an interactive dialogue. The Acting Minister of Justice of Sudan and the Head of Human Rights Unit of the Human Rights Bar Association in Sudan were amongst some of the speakers that took the floor.

After numerous rallies, the army agreed to share power with civilian parties, however in October 2021, the army assumed control again following a coup. Since then, civilian parties, particularly the resistance committees that organised the rallies, have refused to negotiate with the military, while military commanders have sought out Bashir-aligned elements to try to develop a political foundation. Since the military takeover, Sudan has been subjected to flagrant abuses of freedom of opinion, expression, and related rights.

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 (𝐆𝐈𝐂𝐉) condemns all abuses of human rights perpetrated by the military and all other parties to the conflict in Sudan. It is imperative that Sudan forms a strong political foundation and implements democratic processes based upon fundamental human rights. Sudan’s Constitution is the cornerstone of democracy and the government must uphold all rights set out in the Bill of Rights.