Office of the Attorney General directive: Formation of a specialized war crimes investigation mechanism
Nyala , Sudan 26 August 2026
Seneen Hamed Moussa Madibo, Attorney General
The Attorney General of the Republic of Sudan has issued a decision establishing a specialized investigation and inquiry team to investigate allegations of war crimes, international crimes, crimes against humanity, and violations of international humanitarian law.
The decision, issued under the authority of Article 30 of the The Public Prosecution Act,2017, read together with Article 20 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1991, establishes a multidisciplinary team with judicial, legal, security, medical and technical expertiseThe team will be chaired by the Assistant First Attorney General, with an Assistant Attorney General serving chair.
Under the decision, the team is authorized to receive complaints and reports concerning war crimes, crimes against humanity and violations of international humanitarian law, and to conduct inquiries and investigations into such cases.
The team is also empowered to initiate criminal proceedings, assess and evaluate evidence, refer cases to competent courts and conduct prosecutions.
In carrying out its mandate, the team will exercise powers vested in the Public Prosecution under the Attorney General Act of 2017 and the Criminal Procedure Act of 1991.
The decision further authorizes the formation of specialized working groups to undertake specific investigations under the supervision of the team leadership or in accordance with directives issued by the Attorney Genera
The team may seek assistance from individuals with relevant expertise, while its decisions may be appealed to the Attorney General. The Attorney General also retains the authority to reconstitute the team when necessary.
The decision requires the team to submit biweekly progress reports, while its final report is to be submitted within three months from the commencement of its work.
The formation of the multidisciplinary team represents a significant institutional step toward establishing a structured mechanism for investigating alleged international crimes and violations committed during Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
By combining prosecutorial authority with expertise in international humanitarian law, forensic evidence, weapons, military aviation, satellite imagery, medicine and human rights, the investigation mechanism is designed to address complex allegations requiring both legal scrutiny and specialized technical analysis.
The decision places accountability, evidence-based investigation and judicial review at the center of the process of addressing alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan.
