The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 October 2026.
UK Statement on behalf of the Sudan Core Group, on the draft resolution on the human rights and humanitarian situation in Sudan, as delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Kumar Iyer.
Mr President,
On behalf of a core group of Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom, I present draft resolution L.26, which responds to the Human Rights and Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan.
Mr President, the UN Fact-Finding Mission’s report paints a devastating picture: communities shattered, millions displaced, and civilians trapped in a cycle of violence. Drone warfare conducted by both the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces has extended the geographical reach of hostilities. Attacks on hospitals, markets, even a kindergarten, have left civilians with nowhere safe to go. Illegal flows of weapons and external support are enabling these atrocities, wreaking havoc across the region, and undermining prospects for peace. It is imperative that States and other external actors cease arming, financing and otherwise sustaining this devastating conflict.
The core group calls for accountability across the full chain of responsibility, and via every avenue available. In this context we commend the critical work of the International Criminal Court to ensure accountability and justice for victims of atrocities in Sudan, and call for full Sudanese cooperation with the Court.
Faced with unconscionable horrors across Sudan, this Council cannot look away. We must stand united. The UN Fact-Finding Mission is the only independent investigative body documenting and reporting on these violations and abuses across Sudan. We welcome its commitment to working in-step with other independent accountability efforts, in particular the Joint Fact-Finding Mission of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The Banjul Joint Declaration in May of this year is testimony to the collaboration and complementarity between the UN mechanism and the African Union, whose leadership remains crucial to ending the conflict.
Renewing the Fact-Finding Mission’s mandate is essential to enable justice in Sudan and lay the groundwork for future accountability.
Throughout the session, we have held consultations and discussed this draft extensively with all delegations, starting with Sudan. We took on board many of the proposals made, including a number from Sudan themselves.
It is regretful that these changes were not enough for the Sudanese authorities as this is a resolution very much for the people of Sudan.
We reiterate the Banjul Joint Declaration’s recognition of the courage and resilience of victims, survivors and human rights defenders across Sudan who remain committed to peace and documentation efforts, often at great personal risk.
These brave actors deserve more than this Council’s attention; they deserve our solidarity.
We urge all members to stand with the people of Sudan and vote in favour of this resolution.
Thank you.