UN Human Rights Chief urges 'key players' in Sudan war to use their influence to end fighting

(18 Jan 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

++QUALITY AS INCOMING++

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nairobi, Kenya - 18 January 2026
1. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and his colleagues walking in for a media briefing
2. Various of Türk during briefing
3. Various of journalists at the briefing
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"It is despicable that large sums of money are being spent on procuring increasingly advanced weaponry. Funds that should be used to alleviate the suffering of the population. No one in his right mind could think that continued fighting is the answer and I kept asking myself when I was there, 'what is it that those who wage this war want to achieve?' Why would anyone in their right mind jeopardize the lives of so many people?"
5. Wide of briefing
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"The Sudanese armed forces must cease these intolerable attacks against civilian objects that are indispensable to the civilian population, including markets, health facilities, schools and shelters."
7. Various of the briefing
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"When it comes to the involvement of the UAE (United Arab Emirates), there was a committee of experts report from 2024. We don't have more information on that than what the committee has provided in 2024, but obviously the situation has deteriorated ever since. It is important to identify the business interests that are behind this horrible war."
9. Various of the briefing
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"When it comes to justice, absolutely the International Criminal Court has a very important role to play. I, in fact have asked the international community before the Human Rights Council to extend the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court to the whole of Sudan. Not just to Darfur."
11. Mid of press briefing
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Li Fung, Sudan Representative OHCHR:
"Sudan is the world's largest displacement crisis and this is entirely caused by this conflict. The current figures are that close to about 11.75 million people are displaced. Currently 4.4 million are (displaced) outside the country and 7 million internally. There are shifting numbers because people continue to flee whilst also people are returning to areas which are declared safer, but this is not necessarily fixed."
13. Mid of Türk addressing the media, through lens
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"It's also clear that using rape and sexual violence as a method of warfare is a war crime. If it is systematic and widespread, it could amount to a crime against humanity."
15. Various of briefing ending
STORYLINE:
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Sunday asked warring factions and their funders to find an immediate end to hostilities in Sudan.

Speaking in Nairobi, after his visit to Sudan's Northern State, Türk recounted the various tales narrated to him by victims of the conflict who had taken shelter at Al Afad camp for internally displaced people.

"It is despicable that large sums go to advanced weaponry when funds should ease civilian suffering," Türk said.

“No one in his right mind thinks more fighting is the answer. What do war leaders seek by endangering countless lives?"

Türk began his visit to Sudan on 14 January.

The UN Human Rights chief demanded an end to Sudanese armed forces attacks on markets, health facilities and schools.






AP video shot by Jackson Njehia



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