As Sudan’s civil war continues to wreak havoc, experts are urging immediate action to halt the flow of weapons to both warring factions the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. Former Tanzania Chief Justice Mohamed Osman Chande, speaking at a symposium organized by the Wayamo Foundation, emphasized that stripping both sides of their weaponry is the only viable path to peace.
Chande, who chairs the United Nations fact-finding mission in Sudan, warned that despite sanctions, the factions continue to rearm, prolonging the war’s destruction. His statement comes as reports of severe human rights violations, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), continue to emerge from conflict hotspots such as Nyala, Al Fasher, Khartoum, and Omdurman.
The symposium, which brought together international law experts, civil society groups, and diplomats, focused on strengthening accountability mechanisms for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Africa. Experts stressed that cutting off arms supplies and disrupting criminal networks funding armed groups are crucial steps in ending Sudan’s bloodshed.
Mikel Delagrange, a Senior International Legal Advisor at the Wayamo Foundation, highlighted the importance of tracing financial backers of armed groups. “Identifying who is financing these factions is key to effective action,” he said. Disrupting illicit financial flows in real-time could help weaken warring parties and prevent further atrocities.
The role of technology in accountability efforts was another critical discussion point. Analysts emphasized that modern investigative tools, including open-source intelligence (OSINT), can expose the hidden networks supplying weapons and financing war efforts. Christopher Kiyaseh, an analyst at the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS), noted that these networks leave digital trails that can be traced to uncover illicit activities.
Tina Alai, Transitional Justice Advisor at the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, called for hybrid courts in Sudan. Such courts, modeled after those in Rwanda and Sierra Leone, could ensure justice when the International Criminal Court (ICC) cannot immediately intervene.
The experts concluded that a combination of legal frameworks, judicial innovations, technological advancements, and cross-border collaboration presents a promising path to justice. With continued international pressure and strategic interventions, the world may finally break the cycle of violence in Sudan.
