UN Rights Chief Türk Renews Ceasefire Call at Human Rights Council, Cites Growing Long-Range Drone Toll

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk told the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on September 7, 2026 that 'there needs to be an immediate ceasefire, an end to foreign involvement, and a return to inclusive civilian rule' in Sudan, warning that civilians in Kordofan, Blue Nile, and North and West Darfur face 'imminent' risk. Presenting findings from the Human Rights Council's independent investigators, mission member Mohamed Othman said both the SAF and RSF are increasingly deploying long-range drones that have struck civilians 'in their homes, schools, hospitals, markets, displacement sites and places of refuge and while attending weddings, funerals and other community gatherings.' The investigators found 'reasonable grounds to believe' both the SAF and RSF committed serious human rights and international humanitarian law violations that may amount to war crimes, and singled out El Obeid's partial siege and repeated RSF drone strikes on critical infrastructure as an acute concern.